What is a design consideration when implementing FSPF?

Fabric Shortest Path First (FSPF) is a link-state routing protocol used in Fibre Channel networks. A fundamental design aspect is its operation within a fabric, where each switch is identified by a unique domain ID. FSPF calculates the shortest path to every other switch in the fabric based on link costs. The routing table it builds uses the destination domain ID to determine the best path, making the domain ID a critical component of its routing logic. FSPF ensures a loop-free, stable topology on a per-VSAN basis.

B. Routes are based on the distance vector protocol. FSPF is a link-state protocol, similar to OSPF, not a distance-vector protocol like RIP.
C. FSPF runs only on F Ports. FSPF runs on Inter-Switch Links (ISLs), which are E Ports or TE Ports, not on F Ports that connect to end devices.
D. FSPF runs on a per-chassis basis. FSPF operates on a per-VSAN basis. Each VSAN runs a separate instance of the FSPF protocol.

1. Cisco, MDS 9000 Series NX-OS Fabric Configuration Guide, Release 8.x, "About FSPF". This section states, "FSPF is the standard path selection protocol used in Fibre Channel networks... FSPF routing is performed on a hop-by-hop basis. Each switch in the fabric runs the FSPF protocol and has a complete picture of the fabric topology." The topology is composed of switches identified by domain IDs.

2. Cisco, Designing and Implementing the Cisco MDS 9000, "FSPF". The text explains that FSPF is used to "determine the best path between any two switches in a fabric" and that the "destination of a frame is identified by the domain ID part of the destination ID (DID)".