This MIB applies to one or more of a set of devices
which have connectivity through some kind of 'fabric'.
Many features which run in such an environment require
the exchange of information between the peer devices
which participate in providing the feature. An example
of the type of information exchanged is configuration
information. It would be advantageous to have the ability
to have configuration for a feature done on one device
and propagated to all other devices in the fabric.
Cisco Fabric Service (CFS) is a general mechanism for
data distribution within the fabric that could be used
by most features.
A feature supported in a device may or may not be CFS
capable. In case a feature is CFS capable, the control
of the CFS operations are instrumented through this MIB.
A CFS capable feature can be enabled for data
distribution within the fabric by the user via SNMP.
When a CFS capable feature is enabled for data
distribution, CFS operations can then be performed for
that particular feature.
As part of the CFS configuration the first mandatory step
is to explicitly enable the feature for data distribution.
This enabling of distribution for a feature needs to be
done for those devices in the fabric where the distribution
is intended. Following this mandatory step, feature specific
configurations can be instrumented in the respective MIBs.
Once a feature is enabled for data distribution, first
subsequent feature specific configuration SET operation
results in a snapshot of current 'Running Configuration'
of the feature, on the local device. This snapshot is used
for subsequent modifications by feature specific SET
operations. Such modified configuration is referred to as
'Pending Configuration'. There can only be one 'Pending
Configuration' in the fabric. Additionally, such 'Pending
Configuration' can be maintained within the context of
additional scope, specific to the respective features.
The user who initiates the creation of the 'Pending
Configuration' is its owner. When a 'Pending Configuration'
for a feature exists in one of the devices of the fabric,
an attempt to create a 'Pending Configuration' for the same
feature and on a different device by way of feature specific
SET operation results in an error. This means feature
specific SET operations intended for distribution can only
be performed on the device that has the 'Pending
Configuration' with it. This ensures data consistency for
distribution.
Once the configuration of a feature is ready to be
distributed to all devices connected to the fabric, a
'commit' action performed on the local device overwrites
the local 'Running Configuration' and then distributes the
new local 'Running Configuration' to all other devices in
the fabric. The successful 'commit' action also results into
destroying of the 'Pending Configuration' and makes the
feature available for new distribution. Any attempt to
perform 'commit' without any modification results in to an
error. The 'commit' action can only be performed by the
owner of the 'Pending Configuration'.
The 'Pending Configuration' can optionally be destroyed
without any distribution. This can be done by using either
'abort' or 'clear' action. The 'abort' action needs to
performed only on that device where the 'Pending
Configuration' exists and can only be performed by the owner
of the 'Pending Configuration'. The 'clear' action can be
initiated through any of the devices in the fabric. The
successful 'abort' or 'clear' operation makes the feature
available for new distribution.
The CFS, in addition to providing the basic distribution
infrastructure to the CFS capable features in a stable
fabric, also provides infrastructure to handle data
distribution when two stable fabrics merge.
This MIB module is to facilitate the global level control
(enabling/disabling) and actions (commit/abort/clear) over
the CFS capable features in the system.
Glossary of the terms used in this MIB:
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VSAN - Virtual Storage Area Network,
similar to a VLAN.
CFS feature Scope - The scope of distribution.
The scope provides the context
within which the CFS actions
are performed on a CFS capable
feature.
CFS Fabric Merge - The merging of two stable fabrics.
The CFS provides infrastructure
to handle data distribution for
CFS distribution enabled features
when the two stable fabrics merge.
CFS control and actions :
CFS Distribution Enable - This is to enable data distribution
for CFS capable feature.
CFS Distribution Disable - This is to disable data
distribution for CFS capable
feature.
CFS Commit - This is to commit the 'Pending
Configuration' on the local device.
This action triggers the
distribution of the 'Pending
Configuration' to all the devices
in the fabric.
CFS Abort - This is to Destroy the 'Pending
Configuration' on the local device
without any distribution. Once
local 'Pending Configuration' is
destroyed, creation of 'Pending
Configuration' in the local or any
other device connected to the
fabric is allowed.
CFS Clear - This is to Destroy the 'Pending
Configuration' that exists in any
of the device in the fabric. Once
'Pending Configuration' that exists
with one of the devices in the
fabric is destroyed, creation of
'Pending Configuration' in the
local or any other device connected
to the fabric is allowed.