Brocade VDX 8770-4 Hardware Reference Manual - Manual (Page 46)

26 Brocade VDX 8770-4 Hardware Reference Manual
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Establishing a serial connection to the Brocade VDX 8770-4
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The configuration information is mirrored to the standby MM, if you have installed one, which
allows the current configuration to remain available even if the active MM fails. The configuration
information for the Brocade VDX 8770-4 is stored in the CID cards and the flash memory of the
MMs. The configuration can be backed up to a workstation (uploaded) and then downloaded to the
active MM if necessary.
The Brocade VDX 8770-4 boots up in VCS™ fabric cluster mode and will attempt to form ISLs with
connected VCS-enabled switches,. If the chassis is not connected to another switch, it forms a
“single node VCS fabric.” This means that the chassis operates as a standalone system, but the
operational mode is always VCS-enabled.The switch does not support standalone mode.
Fabric cluster mode is defined as a fabric in which the data path for nodes is distributed each
member switch in the fabric, but the configuration path is not distributed. Each node keeps its
configuration database independently. Fabric cluster mode has three major characteristics:
• The fabric is self-forming. When two or more VCS-enabled switches with unique RBridge IDs
are connected to form a VCS fabric, the fabric is automatically created and the switches
discover the common fabric configuration.
• The fabric is masterless. No single switch stores configuration information or controls fabric
operations. Any switch can fail or be removed without causing disruptive fabric downtime or
delayed traffic.
• The fabric is aware of all members, devices, and Virtual Machines (VMs). Automatic Migration
of Port Profiles (AMPP) supports VM migration to another physical server. If the VM moves, it is
automatically reconnected to all of its original resources.
When the switch connects with a VCS cluster, negotiation protocols determine which switch in the
fabric is the principal switch an makes sure that all domain IDs, and therefore RBridge IDs, are
unique. Once the domain IDs are determined to be unique, they are equated to the RBridge IDs.
The switch with the lowest World Wide Name (WWN) becomes the principal switch, primarily for
purposes of determining the uniqueness of the ID of the other switches in the fabric. The WWN is a
unique identifier burned into the switch at the factory.
If necessary you can change VCS ID.for the switch using the vcs vcsid vcsid command, where the
vcsid is a value from 1 to 8192. By default, the VCS ID of every Brocade VDX 8770-4 is 1. Change
the VCS ID if you need to create a new, separate VCS fabric.
In order to retain the changes made during configuration, you must copy the running configuration
file to the startup configuration file using the copy running-config startup-config command. This will
ensure that the switch reboots to your preferred configuration.
Establishing a serial connection to the Brocade VDX 8770-4
The serial port is located on the port side of the Brocade VDX 8770-4. The switch uses an RJ-45
connector for the serial port. An RJ-45 to DB9 adapter is also provided with the Brocade VDX
8770-4. The cable supplied with the switch is a rollover cable. The serial port is used to connect
to a workstation to configure the Brocade VDX 8770-4 IP address before connecting the switch to a
fabric or IP network.
NOTE
To protect the serial port from damage, keep the cover on the port when not in use.
To establish a serial connection to the serial (console) port on the Brocade VDX 8770-4, complete
the following steps.