Connecting Fibre Channel ports
The Fibre Channel ports connect into an Arbitrated Loop.
When devices connected to the FibreCenter 3400 are powered up, each NL_Port must sign in with the other ports on the loop. Each port first attempts to find an FL_Port within the loop. When it does, it knows it is a part of a public loop connected to a fabric. If it does not, it knows it is a part of a private loop consisting of other NL_Ports only.
Arbitrated loops can have up to 126 active
NL_Ports but only one active FL_Port because the FL_Port is considered the master. You may not configure two switch ports (same switch or different switches) because that would create two FL_Ports.
The FibreCenter can connect direct to a fabric switch, but the switch port must be configured as an FL_Port (Loop Mode).
When connecting to a switch, make sure that only one port of the FibreCenter 3400, or multiple hubs daisy chained together, are connected to the switch.
You may not connect ports from multiple switches to the same loop FibreCenter 3400.
Cabling
Fibre Channel technology offers a variety of cabling options including standard copper, equalized copper, multimode fiber optic, and single mode fiber optic.
The FibreCenter 3400 uses a Small Formfactor Pluggable (SFP) Fibre Channel interface.
The type of cable to use varies depending upon the application, environment and distance. The following table illustrates the different cable options available.
Make sure all cables are anchored securely at both ends with the proper connectors.
Cable length |
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Up to 175 meters | multimode fiber optic | 62.5 micron | LC |
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Up to 500 meters | multimode fiber optic | 50 micron | LC |
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Up to 13 meters | unequalized copper |
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Removing the FibreCenter
1Disconnect all cables from the face of the hub module.
2Loosen the two thumbscrews on the face of the hub module.
3Carefully slide the hub module out of the rack