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Appendix A A-3
Fibre Channel Overview
Defining Fibre Channel
Fibre Channel
Overview
Defining Fibre Channel
This overview of Fibre Channel is intended to briefly explain the
technology, its potential uses, and possible problems that a user should
consider. Individuals requiring more information should consider
additional publications, seminars, and Fibre Channel user groups.
Fibre Channel is an information transport protocol that can be used to
send information between computers and computer sub-systems.
Defined by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Fibre
Channel supports the following:
• Internet Protocol (IP)
• Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
• Small Computer System Interface (SCSI)
• High-Performance Parallel Interface (HIPPI)
• Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)
• Other high-level protocols
Using Fibre Channel, these protocols can run at the same time. For
example, a host bus adapter (HBA) can simultaneously send Local Area
Network (LAN) information to another computer and read or write data
to a Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID). Fibre Channel was
defined with multiple initiators in mind. In addition to supporting a
number of protocols on the same connection, Fibre Channel offers users
the following advantages:
• High speed data transmission
• Long distance support
• Large address space
• Multiple device configuration opportunities