ATTO Technology FCSW, FC2600 Fibre Channel is a key technology for storage, Term Definition

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2 Fibre Channel is a key technology for storage

Fibre Channel is a serial communications technology designed to transfer large amounts of data among a variety of hardware systems over long distances. It is a key technology for applications that require shared, high bandwidth access to storage.

Fibre Channel provides a logical, point-to-point, serial channel for the transfer of data between a buffer at a source device and a buffer at a destination device. It moves buffer contents from one port to another, without regard to the format or meaning of the data so different upper level protocols are able to run over Fibre Channel hardware.

The Fibre Channel architecture is structured as a hierarchical set of protocol layers. Defined within these layers are rules for signal interfaces, serial encoding and decoding, error control, frame format and communications protocols.

ATTO ExpressPCI Fibre Channel host adapters carry SCSI protocol over Fibre Channel.

Glossary______________________________________________________________________________________

Some terms used in the Fibre Channel industry are defined below. More information is available through the ATTO Technology website (www.attotech.com), the Fibre Channel Industry Association (www.fibrechannel.com), Cern (www.cern.ch), the Storage Area Networking Industry Association (www.snia.org), and the Fibre Channel Consortium (www.iol.unh.edu/consortiums, click on FC).

Term

Definition

ANSI

American National Standards Institute

arbitrate

process of selecting one L_Port from a collection of ports which ask for use of the arbitrated loop

 

at the same time

arbitrated loop

a loop topology (FC-AL) in which two or more ports are interconnected, but only two ports can

 

communicate at one time; low-cost solution which may or may not use hubs and switches

auto negotiation

hardware senses and automatically responds depending on configuration

BER

Bit Error Rate: a measure of transmission accuracy; the ratio of bits received in error to bits sent

bit

Smallest unit of data a computer can process: a single binary digit with a value of either 0 or 1

bus

a collection of unbroken signal lines used to transmit information from one part of a computer

 

system to another; taps on the lines connect devices to the bus

Byte

an ordered set of 8 bits

channel

a point-to-point link which transports data from one point to another

CPU

Central Processing Unit: the portion of the computer that actually performs computations

CRC

Cyclic Redundancy Check: an error-correcting code which calculates a numeric value for received

 

and transmitted data; if no error has occurred during transmission, the CRC for both received and

 

transmitted data should be the same

destination

a value in the frame header of each frame which identifies the port in the node where the frame is

address

being sent

device driver

a program that allows a microprocessor to direct the operation of a peripheral device

DMA

Direct Memory Access: a way to move data from a storage device directly to RAM without using

 

the CPU’s resources

DMA bus master

Allows a peripheral to control the flow of data to and from system memory by block as opposed to

 

allowing the processor to control the data by bytes (PIO or programmed I/O)

3 ATTO Technology ExpressPCI FCSW and FC 2600 Installation and Operation Manual

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Contents Atto Technology, Inc Atto ExpressPCI Fcsw Page Contents Environmental and physical specifications Advanced Scsi supportAccelerated PCI bus management MHz only Fibre Channel is a key technology for storage Term DefinitionGlossary System requirements Hardware installation and initial configurationInstallation Fibre Channel addressConfiguration Installing/updating device drivers and firmware Windows 2000/XP driver installationDevice drivers Windows 2000/XP TroubleshootingGeneral suggestions Windows NTMacintosh Appendix a Standards and compliances FCC Standards Radio and Television InterferenceAppendix B Fibre Channel accessories Specific features Appendix C Scsi host adapter selection guideAppendix D Contact Atto Technology, Inc

FC2600, FCSW specifications

ATTO Technology has established itself as a leader in providing high-performance storage connectivity solutions, and the FCSW, FC2600 is a key offering in their portfolio. This advanced Fibre Channel switch epitomizes ATTO's commitment to delivering unparalleled reliability and speed in data transmission, making it an ideal choice for enterprises that rely on high-demand storage applications.

One of the main features of the FCSW, FC2600 is its non-blocking architecture, which supports a substantial bandwidth of up to 32 Gbps per port. This ensures that data flows seamlessly across the network, minimizing bottlenecks and allowing for efficient utilization of resources. The switch is designed to handle heavy workloads, making it suitable for environments such as data centers, media production, and large-scale storage deployments.

In terms of scalability, the FCSW, FC2600 can accommodate a variety of configurations, allowing businesses to expand their storage environments as their needs evolve. With support for multiple fabrics, organizations can easily integrate additional switches, thus enhancing their network capabilities without sacrificing performance. This flexibility is crucial as businesses look to future-proof their infrastructure in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

The FCSW, FC2600 also boasts advanced management features that simplify configuration and monitoring tasks. The intuitive graphical user interface and robust command line interface allow IT administrators to manage the switch efficiently, providing insights into performance metrics and network health. This level of control is invaluable for maintaining optimal network performance and ensuring data integrity.

Another significant characteristic of the FCSW, FC2600 is its redundancy features, which include dual power supplies and hot-swappable components. These features enhance the reliability of the switch, reducing the risk of downtime and ensuring continuous operation in mission-critical applications.

Additionally, ATTO Technology has integrated cutting-edge cybersecurity measures into the FCSW, FC2600 to safeguard sensitive data. The switch supports end-to-end encryption and secure management protocols, ensuring that data is protected both at rest and in transit.

In conclusion, the ATTO Technology FCSW, FC2600 Fibre Channel switch is a powerful solution that combines high-speed connectivity, scalability, advanced management capabilities, redundancy, and robust security features. It is designed to meet the demands of modern data environments, empowering organizations to achieve their storage goals efficiently and securely. As data continues to grow exponentially, the FCSW, FC2600 positions itself as a crucial component in any enterprise's storage strategy.
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