Cisco Systems DSC9148D8G48PK9 manual TL Port, TE Port, TF Port

Chapter 2 Configuring Interfaces

Information About Interfaces

TL Port

In translative loop port (TL port) mode, an interface functions as a translative loop port. It may be connected to one or more private loop devices (NL ports). TL ports are specific to Cisco MDS 9000 Family switches and have similar properties as FL ports. TL ports enable communication between a private loop device and one of the following devices:

•A device attached to any switch on the fabric

•A device on a public loop anywhere in the fabric

•A device on a different private loop anywhere in the fabric

•A device on the same private loop

TL ports support class 2 and class 3 services.

Private loop devices refer to legacy devices that reside on arbitrated loops. These devices are not aware of a switch fabric because they only communicate with devices on the same physical loop (see the “TL Port ALPA Caches” section on page 2-14).

Tip We recommend configuring devices attached to TL ports in zones that have up to 64 zone members.

Note TL port mode is not supported on Generation 2 switching module interfaces.

TE Port

In trunking E port (TE port) mode, an interface functions as a trunking expansion port. It may be connected to another TE port to create an extended ISL (EISL) between two switches. TE ports are specific to Cisco MDS 9000 Family switches. They expand the functionality of E ports to support the following:

•VSAN trunking

•Transport quality of service (QoS) parameters

•Fibre Channel trace (fctrace) feature

In TE port mode, all frames are transmitted in EISL frame format, which contains VSAN information. Interconnected switches use the VSAN ID to multiplex traffic from one or more VSANs across the same physical link. This feature is referred to as trunking in the Cisco MDS 9000 Family switches (see Chapter 5, “Configuring Trunking”). TE ports support class 2, class 3, and class F service.

TF Port

In trunking F port (TF port) mode, an interface functions as a trunking expansion port. It may be connected to another trunked N port (TN port) or trunked NP port (TNP port) to create a link between a core switch and an NPV switch or an HBA to carry tagged frames. TF ports are specific to Cisco MDS 9000 Family switches. They expand the functionality of F ports to support VSAN trunking.

In TF port mode, all frames are transmitted in EISL frame format, which contains VSAN information. Interconnected switches use the VSAN ID to multiplex traffic from one or more VSANs across the same physical link. This feature is referred to as trunking in the Cisco MDS 9000 Family (see Chapter 5, “Configuring Trunking”). TF ports support class 2, class 3, and class F service.

	Cisco MDS 9000 Family NX-OS Interfaces Configuration Guide
2-4	OL-29284-01, Release 6.x