March 2013 Dell EqualLogic Configuration Guide v14.1 14-130
The minimum switch and server CNA/NIC requirements to support an end-to-end DCB solution with
EqualLogic are:
• Data Center Bridging Exchange (DCBx) -DCB protocol that performs discovery, configuration,
and mismatch resolution using Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP )
• Application Priority ( iSCSI TLV ) - Switches must support configuration of a priority value for
iSCSI protocol and advertisement to peer ports. Server NICs/CNAs: Must support iSCSI
protocol in application priority (learned from the switch) and must support tagging outgoing
iSCSI frames with this priority.
• ETS - Requires a dedicated traffic class or priority group for iSCSI priority
• PFC - Requires enabling PFC (no drop or lossless behavior) for iSCSI priority
• Switches: Configure dedicated TC/PG for iSCSI priority with allocated bandwidth and PFC
enabled for iSCSI priority
• Server NICs/CNAs: Adhere to TC/PG mapping for iSCSI priority and PFC for iSCSI priority
(learned from the switch)
Designing a converged network deployment with components that have no DCB support or partial
DCB support is not recommended for end-to-end converged I/O. Configurations with components
that have no DCB support or partial DCB support may result in loss of expected functionality or may
be functional without meeting the converged network objectives.
Note: It is not recommended to share network infrastructure with DCB and Non-DCB
components.
For a complete list of components that support the DCB standards, see the: EqualLogic Compatibility
Matrix
Additionally, there is a partner verified support program (PVSP) between Dell and VMWare.
This agreement is to support Internet SCSI (iSCSI) over Data Center Bridging (DCB) Solution
for ESX in a DCB environment with EqualLogic storage.
VMWare PVSP on VMWare website: EqualLogic SAN over DCB Solution for VMware ESXi 5.1
Note: It is important to verify that all components in the SAN are listed in the EqualLogic
Compatibility Matrix as DCB Supported, or that the components support all EqualLogic
requirements for DCB.
14.3 Methods for configuring DCB
Configuration propagation: If this mechanism is supported by the switch model, then peer switches,
downstream switches, and I/O Aggregator modules should accept the DCBX configuration from the
source switches through certain Inter Switch Link (ISL) ports set as upstream ports capable of receiving
DCBX configuration from peers (enabled with willing mode turned on the ports).
Manual configuration: If the internal propagation method is not supported by your switch model,
then peer and intermediate layer switches must be manually configured with the same DCB
parameters as the source switches with willing mode off across all ports.
To Next Page
Loading...
Need help?
General