> # Shared Rate Mode

> When port rate mode is configured as shared, multiple ports within a port group share data paths to the switch fabric so that fabric bandwidth and related resources are shared. Often, the available bandwidth to the switch fabric may be less than the negotiated operating speed of a port. Ports in this mode use local buffering for the BB_credit buffers.

> All ports in 8-Gbps Advanced Fibre Channel switching modules where bandwidth is shared support 1-Gbps, 2-Gbps, 4-Gbps, or 8 Gbps traffic. However, it is possible to configure one or more ports in a port group to operate in dedicated rate mode with 1-Gbps, 2-Gbps, 4-Gbps, or 8 Gbps operating speed.

> All ports in 4-Gbps Fibre Channel switching modules where bandwidth is shared support 1-Gbps, 2-Gbps, or 4-Gbps traffic. However, it is possible to configure one or more ports in a port group to operate in dedicated rate mode with 1-Gbps, 2-Gbps, or 4-Gbps operating speed.

> All ports in the 32-Port or 48-Port 8-Gbps Advanced Fibre Channel modules where bandwidth is shared support 1-Gbps, 2-Gbps, 4-Gbps, or 8-Gbps traffic in a maximum or 32 or 48 ports.

> All ports in the 48-Port and 24-Port 8-Gbps Fibre Channel switching modules where bandwidth is shared support 1-Gbps, 2-Gbps, 4-Gbps, or 8-Gbps traffic.

> In the 4/44-Port 8-Gbps Host-Optimized Fibre Channel switching module, all the ports where bandwidth is shared support 1-Gbps, 2-Gbps, 4-Gbps in a maximum of 44 ports, or 8 Gbps in a maximum of 4 ports.

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