5–Validation Methods for DCB and FCoEValidation Step 2—FIP Validation5-6 51031-00 AValidation Step 2—FIP ValidationThe next step is to verify FCoE initialization protocol (FIP). FIP performs the FCoElink initialization and maintenance to enable FCoE traffic in the unified fabric.FIP ensures that: FCoE switches advertise themselves in broadcast messages. End devices query for the VLAN ID to be used for FCoE. End devices query for other FCoE characteristics. End devices log in to or log out from the switch. End devices advertise to the switch that they are present so that the FCoEconnection does not timeout.FIP can be communicated either between the adapter and the FCoE switch (FCF)or between the FCoE target and the FCoE switch (FCF). The FIP test setup isshown in Figure 5-5.Figure 5-5. FIP Test SetupWithin TraceView, normal FIP operation begins with FIP discovery advertisementbroadcast messages from each FCoE switch, which are repeated every eightseconds. These messages contain the MAC address of the switch and the versionof the FIP protocol. FIP operation proceeds in the following sequence:1. The adapter/storage requests the FCoE VLAN ID using the FIP VLANrequest message. The 3-bit VLAN priority for FCoE is broadcast throughDCBX exchanges every 30 seconds.2. The FCoE switch responds with the FCoE VLAN ID in the FIP VLANnotification message.3. The adapters/storage request the FCoE characteristics in an FIP DiscoverySolicitation message. This message also transmits the maximum FCoEframe size supported by the end device.4Gbps10Gbps
