Brocade Network OS Administrator’s Guide v4.1.1 - Manual (Page 216)

FIGURE 33 VDX 6730 and FC switch ports
Access Gateway features, requirements and limitations
Although Access Gateway provides standard features for connection to Fibre Channel SANs, you can
configure a number of optional features as well. There are also requirements and limitations that you
should be aware of when using this feature in a VCS cluster and FC fabric environment.
Port grouping
The Port Grouping (PG) policy is enabled by default when AG is enabled. This allows you to group
N_Ports into a port group. By default, any VF_Ports mapped to these N_Ports are also members of
that port group. Port Grouping allows you to isolate specific hosts to specific FC fabric ports for
performance, security, or other reasons.
Automatic Login Balancing (LB) and Modified Managed Fabric Name Monitoring (M-MFNM) modes
are enabled by default when the PG policy is enabled.
• When LB mode is enabled and an N_Port goes offline, existing logins from VF_Ports are distributed
to available N_Ports in the port group. If a new N_Port comes online, existing logins are not
disturbed. LB mode can be disabled using Network OS commands.
• When LB mode is disabled, VF_Ports are not shared among N_Ports in the port group, as VF_Ports
can only connect to N_Ports to which they are mapped. As a best practice to ensure device login,
bind the ENode to a VF_Port and ensure that its mapped N_Port is online.
• M-MFNM mode ensures all N_Ports connect to the same FC fabric to prevent connections to
multiple SANs. M-MFNM cannot be disabled as long as LB mode is enabled.
Access Gateway features, requirements and limitations
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