Brocade Licencing

For all these examples, you will either need to be logged in via telnet/ssh or use the java applet from the http://switchaddress location. I have yet to get jnlp files to launch correctly in windows, Fedora (with the “real” Sun Java) either launches in a browser or from the command line (javaws fcsw1-01.jnlp), so upgrade to Linux now.

Show licenced ports

fscw1-03:admin> licenseport --show
  24 ports are available in this switch
   No POD licenses are installed
     Dynamic POD method is in use
  12 port assignments are provisioned for use in this switch:
        12 port assignments are provisioned by the base switch license
      *  6 port assignments are added if the first POD license is installed
      *  6 more assignments are added if the second POD license is installed
  11 ports are assigned to installed licenses:
        11 ports are assigned to the base switch license
  Ports assigned to the base switch license:
     1, 2, 3*, 4*, 5, 6*, 14*, 15, 16, 17, 18*
  Ports assigned to the first POD license:
     None
  Ports assigned to the second POD license:
     None
  Ports not assigned to a license:
     0, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23

   1 license reservation is still available for use by unassigned ports
   5 license assignments are held by offline ports (indicated by *)
fscw1-03:admin>

Enable or Disable a port

To move a licence, the port must be disabled. The target port will need enabling after the licence move.

Use switchshow to display the status of each port. It would appear that if a switch port is not connected to a hba, a port cannot be disabled or enabled, but the licence can be moved. This may not be entirely true :-}

fscw1-03:admin> portdisable 3
fscw1-03:admin> switchshow
switchName:     gy-fscw1-03

Area Port Media Speed State     Proto
=====================================
  0   0   --    N4   No_Module        (POD License Not Assigned Yet) Disabled
  1   1   cu    N4   Online           F-Port  50:01:10:a0:00:19:aa:72
  2   2   cu    N4   Online           F-Port  50:01:10:a0:00:19:a6:3a
  3   3   cu    AN   No_Sync          Disabled
  4   4   cu    AN   No_Sync



fscw1-03:admin> portenable 3
fscw1-03:admin> switchshow
switchName:     gy-fscw1-03

Area Port Media Speed State     Proto
=====================================
  0   0   --    N4   No_Module        (POD License Not Assigned Yet) Disabled
  1   1   cu    N4   Online           F-Port  50:01:10:a0:00:19:aa:72
  2   2   cu    N4   Online           F-Port  50:01:10:a0:00:19:a6:3a
  3   3   cu    AN   No_Sync
  4   4   cu    AN   No_Sync

Moving a Licence

~~The move of a licence seems to be easiest via the Java applet.~~
Wrong! As with most things, once it is worked out, the cli is easier and faster.

CLI way

Moving a POD (Port On Demand) licence is as easy as:-

fcsw2-02:admin> licensePort --release 4
fcsw2-02:admin> licensePort --reserve 12
fcsw2-02:admin> portenable 12

The number at the end is the port number you which to change the licensing for, this command is a switch not fabric scope command.

Just make sure and then check again that you are dealing with the correct port before doing this!

By the time you have finished doing this with the CLI, your browser or jnlp java client will still be loading and starting up!

GUI way

Launch the java applet from a browser or the jnlp file. Log in with the same name and password as the telnet interface. On the top right hand side, click the Port admin link:-

Once the Port Admin window has opened, ensure you are in Advanced Mode. The initial view will show all the ports and status of each port. The interesting column headings are Licenced, Port Status and Port Type. The columns can be dragged in to sequence with the mouse.

The meaning of the states for each port is as follows:-

Licensed
Yes	Should be obvious, this port is licenced for use
No	Not licenced and no free port licences are available
Possible	This port is unlicenced but there are available licences to allocate

Port Status
Disabled	Not available for use, switchshow gives more information
Online	Port is licenced and has a connection to an HBA
No_Sync	Port is licenced, but no connection to an HBA, this is the message from a copper connection.
No_Light	Port is licenced, but is not seeing a connection, this is the message from a SFP optical port

See SAN Fabric Config, Port Types.

On this switch, there is one free licence, this is shown at the top of the Port Admin window but you can find it from the command line too (last line):-

fscw1-03:admin> licenseport --show
  .... edited ....
  11 ports are assigned to installed licenses:
        11 ports are assigned to the base switch license
  Ports assigned to the base switch license:
     1, 2, 3*, 4*, 5, 6*, 14*, 15, 16, 17, 18*
   1 license reservation is still available for use by unassigned ports
fscw1-03:admin>

Back to the licence move.

In the Port Admin window, highlight the port number you wish to unlicence.
Click the Release Licence button at the top.
Highlight the port you wish to licence and click the Reserve Licence button.
In addition, you may need to click Enable to allow the port to be brought in to use. You will be prompted to confirm your action before fabos does anything.

Rainsbrook

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