Device Alias Distribution
By default, device alias distribution is enabled. The device alias feature uses CFS to distribute the modifications
to all switches in a fabric.
If device alias distribution is disabled, database changes are not distributed to the switches in the fabric. The
same changes would have to be performed manually on all switches in the fabric to keep the device alias
database up-to-date. Database changes immediately take effect, so there would also not be any pending database
and commit or abort operations. If you have not committed the changes and you disable distribution, a commit
task fails.
This example shows how to display a failed device alias status:
switch#
show device-alias status
Fabric Distribution: Disabled
Database:- Device Aliases 25
Status of the last CFS operation issued from this switch:
==========================================================
Operation: Commit
Status: Failed (Reason: Operation is not permitted as the fabric distribution is
currently disabled.)
Locking the Fabric
When you perform any device alias configuration task (regardless of which device alias task), the fabric is
automatically locked for the device alias feature. Once you lock the fabric, the following situations apply:
•
No other user can make any configuration changes to this feature.
•
A copy of the effective database is obtained and used as the pending database. Subsequent modifications
are made to the pending database. The pending database remains in use until you commit the modifications
to the pending database or discard (
abort
) the changes to the pending database.
Committing Changes
You can commit changes.
If you commit the changes made to the pending database, the following events occur:
•
The pending database content overwrites the effective database content.
•
The pending database is distributed to the switches in the fabric and the effective database on those
switches is overwritten with the new changes.
•
The pending database is emptied of its contents.
•
The fabric lock is released for this feature.
Cisco Nexus 5500 Series NX-OS SAN Switching Configuration Guide, Release 7.x
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Distributing Device Alias Services
Device Alias Databases