McDATA 3000 Network Router User Manual


 
2
Hardware Configurations
2-9
Fibre Channel Card Dependencies
achieved in networks which limit the number of concurrent SCSI I/O
operations and also in networks with high latency.
IP and ATM WANs are supported with E_port configurations.
FC/SCSI E_Port to
E_Port
When an UltraNet Edge 3000 is configured for E_port, its peer UltraNet
Edge 3000 must also be configured as E_port.
FC/SCSI F_port
Configurations
F_port is a port in the fabric where an N_port can attach. F_ports are frame
routing ports, which are insensitive to higher level protocols. A port
configured for F_port can only connect to another N_port via a
point-to-point connection.
The UltraNet Edge 3000 contains an application which acts as a Fibre
Channel switch (FCSW) and eliminates the need for an external Fibre
Channel switch. When the UltraNet Edge 3000 is configured for use
with the FCSW application, it is configured for F_port.
The UltraNet Edge 3000 offers the standard F_port configuration and
F_port Disk Streaming which moves data more efficiently in high
latency networks than our standard F_port solution. F_port Disk
Streaming functions as a subset of our Fibre Channel Device
Extension technology. A significant performance gain is normally
achieved in networks which limit the number of concurrent SCSI I/O
operations and also in networks with high latency.
IP, ATM, or SONET (POS) WANs are supported with F_port
configurations.
FC/SCSI F_Port to
F_Port
When an UltraNet Edge 3000 is configured for F_port, its peer
UltraNet Edge 3000 must also be configured as F_port.
FC/SCSI N_port
Configurations
N_port is a node port, or a port on a disk or computer. Ports that are
N_port can only communicate with another N_port on another node,
or to a switch. NL_port is a Node Loop Port; a port supporting the
Arbitrated Loop protocol.
When running FC/SCSI Tape Pipelining (Device Extension) on the
UltraNet Edge 3000, it will be configured for N_port or NL_port. For
more information, refer to
Chapter 10, FC/SCSI Tape Pipelining in this
guide.
FC/SCSI N_Port to
N_Port
When an UltraNet Edge 3000 is configured for N_port, its peer
UltraNet Edge 3000 must also be configured as N_port.