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InfiniBand network devices can transition between Ethernet mode and IB (InfiniBand) mode using the NetworkLinkType attribute. While in Ethernet mode, the network device is presented with an FQDD starting with NIC (for example, NIC.Slot.4-1-1). While in IB mode, the network device is presented with an FQDD starting with InfiniBand (for example InfiniBand.Slot.4-1-1).
Example of a device in Ethernet mode:
<Component FQDD="NIC.Slot.4‐1‐1">
<Attribute Name="NetworkLinkType">Ethernet</Attribute>
Example of a device in IB mode:
<Component FQDD="InfiniBand.Slot.4‐1">
<Attribute Name="NetworkLinkType">IB</Attribute>
When you use SCP Import to transition between modes, two Part Replacement messages will appear in the LCL, as in the following example:
2020‐10‐22 09:29:58 PR8 Device not detected: Mellanox ConnectX‐6 Single Port VPI HDR QSFP Adapter ‐ 98:03:9B:9F:51:42(NIC in Slot 4 Port 1 Partition 1)
2020‐10‐22 09:29:58 PR7 New device detected: Mellanox ConnectX‐6 Single Port VPI HDR QSFP Adapter ‐ 98:03:9B:9F:51:42(InfiniBand Controller in Slot 4)
These messages are expected because of the FQDD change in the device.
The configuration results for a NetworkLinkType change will use the FQDD of the original mode. In this example, the device is in Ethernet mode and switched to IB mode.
Racadm>>lclog viewconfigresult ‐j JID_033767124177 SeqNumber = 2316
FQDD = NIC.Slot.4‐1‐1
Operation Name = CHANGE DisplayValue = BlnkLeds Name = BlnkLeds
OldValue = 15
NewValue = 0
Status = Success Operation Name = CHANGE DisplayValue = NetworkLinkType Name = NetworkLinkType
OldValue = Ethernet
NewValue = IB
Status = Success
Despite having different FQDDs, these devices are the same. The set of attributes available to these devices will be different depending on the mode. The feature sets available to these devices are outside of the scope of this document. Review the network devices user manual for full details.
Note: Switching modes and applying attributes on the new mode requires completion of two separate SCP Import operations.