Intel® Ethernet 800 Series Linux Flow Control
Configuration Guide for RDMA Use Cases
DCB Willing vs. Non-willing Modes
DCB standards have a concept of willing vs. non-willing DCB configuration. This refers to whether the device is willing to receive its DCB settings from its link neighbor.
- In willing mode, a DCB-enabled device can query its neighbor's DCB settings, then apply the same settings to itself.
- In non-willing mode, DCB settings on the device must be explicitly configured.
A common strategy for using willing and non-willing modes in a cluster:
- Set switches as non-willing.
- Configure DCB (priority settings, traffic classes, bandwidth allocations, etc.) on the switch ports.
- Set adapters as willing.
- Adapters are automatically configured.
This helps simplify DCB cluster configuration by centralizing DCB settings on a switch and pushing the configuration to the adapters (rather than configuring each host individually).
Priority flow control (PFC) is supported on