1-5
Cisco SFS 7024 Hardware Users Guide
OL-8794-02
Chapter
Subnet Management

Subnet Management Agents

A Subnet Management Agent processes management requests from the Subnet Manager. Subnet
Management Agents are implemented on all nodes within the InfiniBand fabric. These nodes include
IB-capable switches, routers, and channel adapters. Each node implements a Subnet Management Agent.
Within the SFS 7024 Switch, a Subnet Management Agent (SMA) is implemented within its firmware.
An SMA also runs on every InfiniBand-capable server that is equipped w ith an HCA. As shown in
Figure 1-3 the Subnet Manager interacts with these SMAs to discover information about the nodes on
the fabric.
Figure 1-3 InfiniBand Managers and Agents
The Subnet Manager utilizes the agent information to discover and manage connections from the SFS
7024 to the InfiniBand fabric. The Subnet Manager maintains a database tr acking subnet topology
information as a result of its interaction with the SMAs.
InfiniBand General Services Managers and Agents
The InfiniBand specification defines the InfiniBand General Services Managers and their associated
agents. General Services Managers exchange messages with agents to manage and monitor the
performance and the physical environment of devices on the network.
Once the InfiniBand network is up and running, the InfiniBand General Services Managers begin to
interface with General Services Agents. The General Services Managers and Agents include:
• Subnet Administration (SA)
SA provides InfiniBand fabric nodes with an interface to the Subnet Manager. This interface is used
by the nodes on the fabric to interact with the Master Subnet Manager and to discover information
about the fabric. Every InfiniBand fabric subnet requires a SA.
• The Device Manager (DM) and Device Management Agent (DMA)
The DM and DMA discover and manage the association between hosts and devices behind the Target
Channel Adapters.
Subnet
SFS
Subnet Manager
Agent
Management
InfiniBand
Subnet
Agent
Management
7024
Capable Server
InfiniBand
Subnet
Agent
Management
Capable Server
InfiniBand
Subnet
Agent
Management
Capable Server