Merge of McDATA switch into existing SANtegrity fabric fails - IBM BladeCenter

Resolving The Problem

RETAIN tip: H184111

When attempting to merge the McDATA 6-Port Fibre Channel Switch Module for IBM eServer BladeCenter into an existing McDATA fabric running SANtegrity, the merge fails.

The system may be any of the following IBM eServer systems:

• an IBM eServer BladeCenter, type 8677, any model
• an IBM eServer BladeCenter HS40, type 8839, any model
• an IBM eServer BladeCenter HS20, type 8678, any model
• an IBM eServer BladeCenter HS20, type 8832, any model
• an IBM eServer BladeCenter JS20, type 8842, any model
• an IBM eServer BladeCenter T, type 8730, any model
• an IBM eServer BladeCenter T, type 8720, any model

The system is configured with the following option(s):

• The system is configured with a McDATA 6-Port Fibre Channel Switch Module for IBM eServer BladeCenter

Install the SANtegrity option for the McDATA 6-Port Fibre Channel Switch Module for IBM eServer BladeCenter. Availability outlook is 3rd Quarter 2005.

To integrate BladeCenter/McDATA FCSM into Existing McDATA fabrics where SANtegrity is running Disable Fabric Binding. The fabric binding feature enables you to configure what devices or switches can join a selected fabric. This provides security from accidental fabric merges and potential fabric disruption when fabrics become segmented because they can not merge. To disable fabric binding, using the EFCM interface:

1. Highlight the fabric to configure fabric binding. Fabric bindings must be disabled (if managing multiple fabrics from EFCM).
2. If Enterprise Fabric Mode is enabled, it must be disabled in order to disable Fabric Binding. To disable Enterprise Fabric Mode:
3. from the configure menu, select Enterprise Fabric Mode. The Enterprise Fabric Mode dialog box will be displayed.
4. From the Fabric Name List, select the fabric for which you want to disable Enterprise Fabric Mode.
5. To deactivate Enterprise Fabric Mode for this Fabric, click the deactivate button.
6. Now you may disable fabric binding for this fabric, by performing the following steps:
   1. From the configure menu on EFCM, select the Fabric Binding option. The Fabric Binding Dialog Box displays.
   2. If the Fabric Binding Enable/Disable check box is checked (meaing Fabric Binding is enabled), uncheck the box.
   3. Click OK. Now Fabric Binding is disabled and the FCSM may be merged with the Fabric. Fabric binding may not be re-enabled until such time as the SANtegrity Enhanced license key is purchased and installed on the FCSM. Enabling/disabling Enterprise Fabric Mode, Fabric Binding, and SANtegrity Enhanced are all non-disruptive activities (meaning traffic in the fabric is not affected, nor do any of the switches/directors in the fabric need to be taken offline).

Note: if switch binding or Port binding is being used (switch binding, when enabled, only allows approved devices to attach to a particular switch) you can attach the FCSM to the fabric by adding it to the access list of the individual McDATA to which you are attaching the FCSM.