5.2.10.5. Dynamic Fabric Configuration
Dynamic Fabric Configuration is a feature designed for fabric cluster environments where it is desirable to change Virtual Fabrics on-the-fly (such as multiple virtual fabric environments). Virtual fabrics can be modified in the configuration file and applied to the fabric without stopping and restarting the SM. These changes are also nondisruptive to the fabric cluster.
In order to take full advantage of dynamic configuration, all VirtualFabrics must define a QOSGroup (see Multiple Virtual Fabrics). If all VirtualFabrics specify QOSGroup, the following characteristics can be changed dynamically:
QOSGroup Bandwidth settings
Enabling or disabling Virtual Fabrics
Renaming Virtual Fabrics (equivalent to deleting one and adding another)
Move Virtual Fabrics between Standby and Active
Changing a Virtual Fabric's members
Adding and removing DeviceGroups
Adding and removing ports from a DeviceGroup
To change Security, Applications, MaxRate, MaxMTU, and PKey, a VirtualFabric must be in Standby, as these could be disruptive changes.
The only exception is the Admin VirtualFabric, which can not be altered in any way other than changing its Bandwidth. Modifying the Admin VirtualFabric, along with creating, altering, or removing a QoS Group, or any other changes to the configuration file requires a restart of the SM and may also be disruptive to the cluster.
If VirtualFabrics specify QoS policies instead of using QOSGroups, only the following characteristics may be changed dynamically:
Virtual Fabric Bandwidth settings
Virtual Fabric active/standby