Dell PowerEdge FN I/O Module Configuration Guide 9.10(0.0)

On reload, all the server ports (1-32) come up as switch ports in No Shut mode. Uplinks remain in Shut mode ensuring that there are no network loops.

With this feature, you can install servers and test their connectivity by running applications on the servers, even before configuring VLAN membership, STP on all interfaces or uplinks.

Important Points to Remember

• On a new MXL switch running the Dell Networking OS version 9.2(0.0), with no saved startup configuration, the switch comes up with all server ports as switch ports in No Shut state. When you configure STP, the switch brings up the uplink and saves the running configuration to the startup-config file. All the server ports without any specific configuration have the default configuration of Layer2 switch port and No Shut mode saved.
• On an existing MXL switch with a saved startup configuration, running an older Dell Networking OS version, an upgrade to a new version does not change the current behavior. This is because the start-up config file in older Dell Networking OS versions have the default configuration of Shut mode for all the server ports without any specific configuration. To enable this feature after upgrading a switch with a saved startup configuration, delete the start-up config file and reboot the switch. This allows all the server ports to come as Layer2 switch ports in No Shut state.
• In a stacked configuration of MXL switches, the behavior is similar to a standalone configuration. If a start-up config file is detected at bootup, the entire stack reboots using the saved configuration. If no start-up config file is detected at restart, the entire logical switch, including master unit, standby master, and any stack units restart with all server ports as Layer2 switch ports in No Shut mode.
• If a new stack unit is added to an existing stack, by default, the server side interfaces always start in Shut mode. If the startup configuration is deleted after a stack unit was added to a stack and the stack is reloaded, on reboot the entire logical switch comes up with all server ports as Layer2 switch ports in No Shut mode.