About Interop Mode - Cisco MDS 9000 Series Configuration Manual

About Interop Mode

This section includes the following topics:
About Interop Mode
Cisco NX-OS software supports the following four interop modes:
• Mode 1— Standards based interop mode that requires all other vendors in the fabric to be in interop
• Mode 2—Brocade native mode (Core PID 0).
• Mode 3—Brocade native mode (Core PID 1).
• Mode 4—McData native mode.
For information about configuring interop modes 2, 3, and 4, refer to the Cisco MDS 9000 Family
Switch-to-Switch Interoperability Configuration Guide .
Table 26: Changes in Switch Behavior When Interoperability Is Enabled , on page 310
switch behavior when you enable interoperability mode. These changes are specific to switches in the Cisco
MDS 9000 Family while in interop mode.
Table 26: Changes in Switch Behavior When Interoperability Is Enabled
Switch Feature
Domain IDs
Timers
F_S_TOV
D_S_TOV
E_D_TOV
R_A_TOV
Trunking
Default zone
Cisco MDS 9000 Series Fabric Configuration Guide, Release 8.x
310
mode.
Changes if Interoperability Is Enabled
Some vendors cannot use the full range of 239 domains within a fabric.
Domain IDs are restricted to the range 97-127. This is to accommodate McData's
nominal restriction to this same range. They can either be set up statically (the
Cisco MDS switch accept only one domain ID, if it does not get that domain ID
it isolates itself from the fabric) or preferred. (If it does not get its requested domain
ID, it accepts any assigned domain ID.)
All Fibre Channel timers must be the same on all switches as these values are
exchanged by E ports when establishing an ISL. The timers are F_S_TOV,
D_S_TOV, E_D_TOV, and R_A_TOV.
Verify that the Fabric Stability Time Out Value timers match exactly.
Verify that the Distributed Services Time Out Value timers match exactly.
Verify that the Error Detect Time Out Value timers match exactly.
Verify that the Resource Allocation Time Out Value timers match exactly.
Trunking is not supported between two different vendor's switches. This feature
may be disabled on a per port or per switch basis.
The default zone behavior of permit (all nodes can see all other nodes) or deny
(all nodes are isolated when not explicitly placed in a zone) may change.
Advanced Features and Concepts
lists the changes in