Brocade Network OS Administrator’s Guide v4.1.1 - Manual (Page 541)

Configuring SFP Breakout Mode
● SFP breakout overview................................................................................................. 541
● Configuring breakout mode for a chassis system......................................................... 543
● Configuring breakout mode for a standalone switch..................................................... 545
● Configuring additional breakout mode scenarios.......................................................... 546
SFP breakout overview
SFP breakout is a new port configuration parameter. Breakout interfaces are those interfaces created
on the breakout SFP. The number of interfaces created is dependent on the SFP type. For example,
when a Quad SFP (QSFP) is not in breakout mode, only one 40-Gbps interface exists; however, when
that QSFP has breakout mode enabled, four 10-Gbps interfaces are created. These interfaces, no
matter whether breakout mode is enabled or disabled, are administered and operate exactly the same
as any other interface created on a regular SFP with no breakout capability. As a result, existing DCE
module operations are not affected.
While the DCE module has no dependency on the breakout interfaces operation, the creation and
deletion of interfaces is similar to that for regular interfaces, so that modules do not require special
handling as a result of an SFP mode change. Currently, only static configuration is supported, whereby
the reincarnation of a breakout interface resembles the sequence that an interface executes during a
poweroff linecard > no linecard > poweron linecard operation. If the existing DCE module supports
this line-card removal sequence, the changed SFP mode operational sequence is implicitly supported.
The slight difference is that the SFP mode change initiates a "no linecard" equivalent at the port level,
rather than attempting to remove all configurations for all interfaces on the line card.
Fabric Inter-Switch Links (ISLs) are supported in breakout mode, and the default admin state for
breakout interfaces is enabled.
Breakout mode properties
A breakout interface basically supports all operations or configurations that a regular interface supports
(with few exceptions, which are noted in
Breakout mode limitations on page 543). As such, it has the
following properties:
• Has its own admin and operational state.
• Has its own ASIC resources interface statistics.
• Supports any configuration applicable to any regular SFP interface.
• Can be a port-channel or vLAG member.
• Can be static or dynamic depending on the targeted platform or line card.
The default state for an SFP is "no breakout."
Breakout mode support
The table below lists the current platforms that support breakout mode.
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