Planning
2-1
2
Planning
Consider the following when planning a fabric:
• Devices
• Device Access
• Performance
• Multiple Chassis Fabrics
• Switch Module Services
• Fabric Security
• Fabric Management
Devices
When planning a fabric, consider the number of public devices and the
anticipated demand. This will determine the number of ports that are needed
and in turn the number of switches.
The switch module uses SFP optical transceivers, but the device host bus
adapters you are using may not. Consider whether the device adapters use
SFP or Gigabit Interface Converters (GBIC) transceivers, and choose fiber
optic cables accordingly. Use LC-type cable connectors for SFP transceivers
and SC-type cable connectors for GBIC transceivers. Also consider the
transmission speed compatibility of your devices, HBAs, switches, and SFPs.
Consider the distribution of targets and initiators. An F_Port supports a
single public device. An FL_Port can support up to 126 public devices in an
arbitrated loop.