DELL N3000 User Manual

Configuring Data Center Bridging Features

This chapter describes how to manage the features developed for use in data 

center environments but often used in a variety of 10G applications.

The topics covered in this chapter include:

• Data Center Bridging Technology Overview
• Priority Flow Control (PFC)
• DCB Capability Exchange (DCBX)
• Enhanced Transmission Selection (ETS)

The Dell Networking N4000 switches support Data Center Bridging (DCB) 

features to increase the reliability of Ethernet-based networks in the data 

center. 
The N4000 switches support PFC, ETS, and DCBX capability exchange, with 

the ability to autoconfigure from a peer switch. 
The Ethernet enhancements that DCB provides are well suited for iSCSI 

applications.
Table 29-1 provides a summary of the features this chapter describes.

The data center fatures described in this chapter are available on the Dell 

Networking N4000 switches only.

PFC

Provides a way to distinguish which traffic on a physical link is 

paused when congestion occurs based on the priority of the traffic.