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Understanding DCBX

Data Center Bridging Capability Exchange protocol (DCBX) is an extension of Link Layer Data Protocol (LLDP). If you disable LLDP on an interface, that interface cannot run DCBX. If you attempt to enable DCBX on an interface on which LLDP is disabled, the configuration commit operation fails. Data center bridging (DCB) devices use DCBX to exchange configuration information with directly connected peers.

This topic describes:

DCBX Basics

DCBX can:

  • Discover the DCB capabilities of peers.

  • Detect DCB feature misconfiguration or mismatches between peers.

  • Configure DCB features on peers.

You can configure DCBX operation for priority-based flow control (PFC), Layer 2 and Layer 4 applications such as FCoE and iSCSI, and ETS. DCBX is enabled or disabled on a per-interface basis.

Note:

QFX5200 and QFX5210 switches do not support enhanced transmission selection (ETS) hierarchical scheduling. Use port scheduling to manage bandwidth on these switches.

By default, for PFC and ETS, DCBX automatically negotiates administrative state and configuration with each interface’s connected peer. To enable DCBX negotiation for applications, you must configure the applications, map them to IEEE 802.1p code points in an application map, and apply the application map to interfaces.

The FCoE application only needs to be included in an application map when you want an interface to exchange type, length, and values (TLVs) for other applications in addition to FCoE. If FCoE is the only application you want an interface to advertise, then you do not need to use an application map. For ETS, DCBX pushes the switch configuration to peers if they are set to learn the configuration from the switch (unless you disable sending the ETS recommendation TLV on interfaces in IEEE DCBX mode).

You can override the default behavior for PFC, for ETS, or for all applications mapped to an interface by turning off autonegotiation to force an interface to enable or disable that feature. You can also disable DCBX autonegotiation for applications on an interface by excluding those applications from the application map you apply to that interface or by deleting the application map from the interface.

The default autonegotiation behavior for applications that are mapped to an interface is:

  • DCBX is enabled on the interface if the connected peer device also supports DCBX.

  • DCBX is disabled on the interface if the connected peer device does not support DCBX.

During negotiation of capabilities, the switch can push the PFC configuration to an attached peer if the peer is configured as “willing” to learn the PFC configuration from other peers. The Juniper Networks switch does not support self autoprovisioning and does not change its configuration during autonegotiation to match the peer configuration. (The Juniper switch is not “willing” to learn the PFC configuration from peers.)

Note:

When a port with DCBX enabled begins to exchange type, length, and value (TLV) entries, optional LLDP TLVs on that port are not advertised to neighbors, so that the switch can interoperate with a wider variety of converged network adapters (CNAs) and Layer 2 switches that support DCBX.

DCBX Modes and Support

This section describes DCBX support:

DCBX Modes (Versions)

The two most common DCBX modes are supported:

  • IEEE DCBX—The newest DCBX version. Different TLVs have different subtypes (for example, the subtype for the ETS configuration TLV is 9); the IEEE DCBX Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI) is 0x0080c2.

  • DCBX version 1.01—The Converged Enhanced Ethernet (CEE) version of DCBX. It has a subtype of 2 and an OUI of 0x001b21.

IEEE DCBX and DCBX version 1.01 differ mainly in frame format. DCBX version 1.01 uses one TLV that includes all DCBX attribute information, which is sent as sub-TLVs. IEEE DCBX uses a unique TLV for each DCB attribute.

Note:

The switch does not support pre-CEE (pre-DCB) DCBX versions. Unsupported older versions of DCBX have a subtype of 1 and an OUI of 0x001b21. The switch drops LLDP frames that contain pre-CEE DCBX TLVs.

Table 1 summarizes the differences between IEEE DCBX and DCBX version 1.01, including show command output:

Table 1: Summary of Differences Between IEEE DCBX and DCBX Version 1.01

Characteristic

IEEE DCBX

DCBX Version 1.01

OUI

0x0080c2

0x001b21

Frame Format

Sends a separate, unique TLV for each DCBX attribute. For example, IEEE DCBX uses separate TLVs for ETS, PFC, and each application. Configuration and Recommendation information is sent in different TLVs

Sends one TLV that includes all DCBX attribute information organized in sub-TLVs. The “willing” bit determines whether or not an interface can change its configuration to match the connected peer.

Symmetric/asymmetric configuration with peer

Asymmetric or symmetric

Symmetric only

Differences in the show dcbx interface interface-name operational command

  • Synchronization information is not shown because symmetric configuration is not required.

  • Operational state information is not shown because the operational states do not have to be symmetric.

  • TLV type is shown because unique TLVs are sent for each DCBX attribute.

  • ETS peer Configuration TLV and Recommendation TLV information is shown separately because they are different TLVs.

  • Synchronization information is shown because symmetric configuration is required.

  • Operational state information is shown because the operational states do have to be symmetric.

  • TLV type is not shown because one TLV is used for all attribute information.

  • Recommendation TLV is not sent (DCBX Version 1.01 uses the “willing” bit to determine whether or not an interface uses the peer interface configuration).

You can configure interfaces to use the following DCBX modes:

  • IEEE DCBX—The interface uses IEEE DCBX regardless of the configuration on the connected peer.

  • DCBX version 1.01—The interface uses DCBX version 1.01 regardless of the configuration on the connected peer.

  • Autonegotiation—The interface automatically negotiates with the connected peer to determine the DCBX version the peers use. Autonegotiation is the default DCBX mode.

If you configure a DCBX mode on an interface, the interface ignores DCBX protocol data units (PDUs) it receives from the connected peer if the PDUs do not match the DCBX version configured on the interface. For example, if you configure an interface to use IEEE DCBX and the connected peer sends DCBX version 1.01 LLDP PDUs, the interface ignores the version 1.01 PDUs. If you configure an interface to use DCBX version 1.01 and the peer sends IEEE DCBX LLDP PDUs, the interface ignores the IEEE DCBX PDUs.

Note:

On interfaces that use the IEEE DCBX mode, the show dcbx neighbors interface interface-name operational command does not include application, PFC, or ETS operational state in the output.

Autonegotiation

Autonegotiation is the default DCBX mode. Each interface automatically negotiates with its connected peer to determine the DCBX version that both interfaces use to exchange DCBX information.

When an interface connects to its peer interface, the interface advertises IEEE DCBX TLVs to the peer. If the interface receives one IEEE DCBX PDU from the peer, the interface sets the DCBX mode as IEEE DCBX. If the interface receives three DCBX version 1.01 TLVs from the peer, the interface sets DCBX version 1.01 as the DCBX mode.

Autonegotiation works slightly differently on standalone switches compared to QFabric systems:

  • Standalone switches—When an interface connects to its peer interface, the interface advertises IEEE DCBX TLVs to the peer. If the interface receives an IEEE DCBX TLV from the peer, the interface sets IEEE DCBX as the DCBX mode. If the interface receives three consecutive DCBX version 1.01 TLVs from the peer, the interface sets DCBX version 1.01 as the DCBX mode.

  • QFabric system—When an interface connects to its peer interface, the interface advertises DCBX version 1.01 TLVs to the peer. If the interface receives an IEEE DCBX TLVs from the peer, the interface sets IEEE DCBX as the DCBX mode. If the interface receives three consecutive DCBX version 1.01 TLVs from the peer, the interface retains DCBX version 1.01 as the DCBX mode.

Note:

If the link flaps or the LLDP process restarts, the interface starts the autonegotiation process again. The interface does not use the last received DCBX communication mode.

CNA Support for DCBX Modes

Different CNA vendors support different versions and capabilities of DCBX. The DCBX configuration you use on switch interfaces depends on the DCBX features that the CNAs in your network support.

Interface Support for DCBX

You can configure DCBX on 10-Gigabit Ethernet interfaces and on link aggregation group (LAG) interfaces whose member interfaces are all 10-Gigabit Ethernet interfaces.

DCBX Attribute Types

DCBX has three attribute types:

  • Informational—These attributes are exchanged using LLDP, but do not affect DCBX state or operation; they only communicate information to the peer. For example, application priority TLVs are informational TLVs.

  • Asymmetric—The values for these types of attributes do not have to be the same on the connected peer interfaces. Peers exchange asymmetric attributes when the attribute values can differ on each peer interface. The peer interface configurations might match or they might differ. For example, ETS Configuration and Recommendation TLVs are asymmetric TLVs.

  • Symmetric—The intention is that the values for these types of attributes should be the same on both of the connected peer interfaces. Peer interfaces exchange symmetric attributes to ensure symmetric DCBX configuration for those attributes. For example, PFC Configuration TLVs are symmetric TLVs.

The following sections describe asymmetric and symmetric DCBX attributes:

Asymmetric Attributes

DCBX passes asymmetric attributes between connected peer interfaces to communicate parameter information about those attributes (features). The resulting configuration for an attribute might be different on each peer, so the parameters configured on one interface might not match the parameters on the connected peer interface.

There are two types of asymmetric attribute TLVs:

  • Configuration TLV—Configuration TLVs communicate the current operational state and the state of the “willing” bit. The “willing” bit communicates whether or not the interface is willing to accept and use the configuration from the peer interface. If an interface is “willing,” the interface uses the configuration it receives from the peer interface. (The peer interface configuration can override the configuration on the “willing” interface.) If an interface is “not willing”, the configuration on the interface cannot be overridden by the peer interface configuration.

  • Recommendation TLV—Recommendation TLVs communicate the parameters the interface recommends that the connected peer interface should use. When an interface sends a Recommendation TLV, if the connected peer is “willing,” the connected peer changes its configuration to match the parameters in the Recommendation TLV.

Symmetric Attributes

DCBX passes symmetric attributes between connected peer interfaces to communicate parameter information about those attributes (features), with the objective that both interfaces should use the same configuration. The intent is that the parameters configured on one interface should match the parameters on the connected peer interface.

There is one type of symmetric attribute TLV, the Configuration TLV. As with asymmetric attributes, symmetric attribute Configuration TLVs communicate the current operational state and the state of the “willing” bit. “Willing” interfaces use the peer interface parameter values for the attribute. (The attribute configuration of the peer overrides the configuration on the “willing” interface.)

DCBX Application Protocol TLV Exchange

DCBX advertises the switch’s capabilities for Layer 2 applications such as FCoE and Layer 4 applications such as iSCSI:

Application Protocol TLV Exchange

For all applications, DCBX advertises the application’s state and IEEE 802.1p code points on the interfaces to which the application is mapped. If an application is not mapped to an interface, that interface does not advertise the application’s TLVs. There is an exception for FCoE application protocol TLV exchange when FCoE is the only application you want DCBX to advertise on an interface.

FCoE Application Protocol TLV Exchange

Protocol TLV exchange for the FCoE application depends on whether FCoE is the only application you want the interface to advertise or whether you want the interface to exchange other application TLVs in addition to FCoE TLVs.

If FCoE is the only application you want DCBX to advertise on an interface, DCBX exchanges FCoE application protocol TLVs by default if the interface:

  • Carries FCoE traffic (traffic mapped by CoS configuration to the FCoE forwarding class)

  • Has a congestion notification profile with PFC enabled on the FCoE priority (IEEE 802.1p code point)

  • Does not have an application map

Note:

If no CoS configuration for FCoE is mapped to an interface, that interface does not exchange FCoE application protocol TLVs.

If you want DCBX to advertise FCoE and other applications on an interface, you must specify all of the applications, including FCoE, in an application map, and apply the application map to the desired interfaces.

Note:

If an application map is applied to an interface, the FCoE application must be explicitly configured in the application map, or the interface does not exchange FCoE TLVs.

When DCBX advertises the FCoE application, it advertises the FCoE state and IEEE 802.1p code points. If a peer device connected to a switch interface does not support FCoE, DCBX uses autonegotiation to mark the interface as “FCoE down,” and FCoE is disabled on that interface.

Disabling Application Protocol TLV Exchange

To disable DCBX application protocol exchange for all applications on an interface, issue the set protocols dcbx interface interface-name applications no-auto-negotiation command.

You can also disable DCBX application protocol exchange for applications on an interface by deleting the application map from the interface, or by deleting a particular application from the application map. However, when you delete an application from an application map, the application protocol is no longer exchanged on any interface which uses that application map.

DCBX and PFC

After you enable PFC on a switch interface, DCBX uses autonegotiation to control the operational state of the PFC functionality.

If the peer device connected to the interface supports PFC and is provisioned compatibly with the switch, DCBX sets the PFC operational state to enabled. If the peer device connected to the interface does not support PFC or is not provisioned compatibly with the switch, DCBX sets the operational state to disabled. (PFC must be symmetrical.)

If the peer advertises that it is “willing” to learn its PFC configuration from the switch, DCBX pushes the switch’s PFC configuration to the peer and does not check the peer’s administrative state.

You can manually override DCBX control of the PFC operational state on a per-interface basis by disabling autonegotiation. If you disable autonegotiation on an interface on which you have configured PFC, then PFC is enabled on that interface regardless of the peer configuration. To disable PFC on an interface, do not configure PFC on that interface.

DCBX and ETS

This section describes:

Default DCBX ETS Advertisement

If you do not configure ETS on an interface, the switch automatically creates a default priority group that contains all of the priorities (forwarding classes, which represent output queues) and assigns 100 percent of the port output bandwidth to that priority group. The default priority group is transparent. It does not appear in the configuration and is used for DCBX advertisement. DCBX advertises the default priority group, its priorities, and the assigned bandwidth.

If you configure ETS on an interface, DCBX advertises:

  • Each priority group on the interface

  • The priorities in each priority group

  • The bandwidth properties of each priority group and priority

Any priority on that interface that is not part of an explicitly configured priority group (forwarding class set) is assigned to the automatically generated default priority group and receives no bandwidth. If you configure ETS on an interface, every forwarding class (priority) on that interface for which you want to forward traffic must belong to a forwarding class set (priority group).

ETS Advertisement and Peer Configuration

DCBX does not control the switch’s ETS (hierarchical scheduling) operational state. If the connected peer is configured as “willing,” DCBX pushes the switch’s ETS configuration to the switch’s peers if the ETS Recommendation TLV is enabled (it is enabled by default). If the peer does not support ETS or is not consistently provisioned with the switch, DCBX does not change the ETS operational state on the switch. The ETS operational state remains enabled or disabled based only on the switch hierarchical scheduling configuration and is enabled by default.

When ETS is configured, DCBX advertises the priority groups, the priorities in the priority groups, and the bandwidth configuration for the priority groups and priorities. Any priority (essentially a forwarding class or queue) that is not part of a priority group has no scheduling properties and receives no bandwidth.

You can manually override whether DCBX advertises the ETS state to the peer on a per-interface basis by disabling autonegotiation. This does not affect the ETS state on the switch or on the peer , but it does prevent the switch from sending the Recommendation TLV or the Configuration TLV to the connected peer. To disable ETS on an interface, do not configure priority groups (forwarding class sets) on the interface.

ETS Recommendation TLV

The ETS Recommendation TLV communicates the ETS settings that the switch wants the connected peer interface to use. If the peer interface is “willing,” it changes its configuration to match the configuration in the ETS Recommendation TLV. By default, the switch interfaces send the ETS Recommendation TLV to the peer. The settings communicated are the egress ETS settings defined by configuring hierarchical scheduling on the interface.

We recommend that you use the same ETS settings on the connected peer that you use on the switch interface and that you leave the ETS Recommendation TLV enabled. However, on interfaces that use IEEE DCBX as the DCBX mode, if you want an asymmetric configuration between the switch interface and the connected peer, you can disable the ETS Recommendation TLV by including the no-recommendation-tlv statement at the [edit protocols dcbx interface interface-name enhanced-transmission-selection] hierarchy level.

Note:

You can disable the ETS Recommendation TLV only when the DCBX mode on the interface is IEEE DCBX. Disabling the ETS Recommendation TLV has no effect if the DCBX mode on the interface is DCBX version 1.01. (IEEE DCBX uses separate application attribute TLVs, but DCBX version 1.01 sends all application attributes in the same TLV and uses sub-TLVs to separate the information.)

If you disable the ETS Recommendation TLV, the switch still sends the ETS Configuration TLV to the connected peer. The result is that the connected peer is informed about the switch DCBX ETS configuration, but even if the peer is “willing,” the peer does not change its configuration to match the switch configuration. This is asymmetric configuration—the two interfaces can have different parameter values for the ETS attribute.

For example, if you want a CNA connected to a switch interface to have different bandwidth allocations than the switch ETS configuration, you can disable the ETS Recommendation TLV and configure the CNA for the desired bandwidth. The switch interface and the CNA exchange configuration parameters, but the CNA does not change its configuration to match the switch interface configuration.

Related Documentation

Change History Table

Feature support is determined by the platform and release you are using. Use Feature Explorer to determine if a feature is supported on your platform.

Release
Description
21.2R1EVO
PTX10008 routers support DCBX and PFC.