ATTO Technology FC 3300, FC 3305 operation manual Fibre Channel is a key technology for storage

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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)

3ATTO Technology ExpressPCI FC 3300 and FC 3305 Installation and Operation Manual

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Contents Atto Technology, Inc Atto ExpressPCI FC Page Contents PCI Signal Compatibility Common featuresPCI features Power RequirementsFeatures and benefits Fibre Channel is a key technology for storage PCI LEDLUN ScsiSystem requirements Hardware installation and initial configurationInstallation Fibre Channel addressHost adapter Cable length Cable type Cable size Connector HssdcInstalling/updating device drivers and firmware Windows 2000/XP driver installationDevice drivers Windows XP/2000 TroubleshootingGeneral suggestions Windows NTMacintosh Appendix a Standards and compliances FCC standards radio and television interferenceAppendix B Fibre Channel accessories Appendix C Scsi host adapter selection guide LVD HVDLVD Appendix D Contact Atto Technology, Inc

FC 3305, FC 3300 specifications

ATTO Technology has long been synonymous with high-performance network solutions, and its latest offerings, the FC 3300 and FC 3305, are no exception. Designed to enhance storage connectivity, these Fibre Channel host bus adapters (HBAs) are engineered to provide exceptional speed, low latency, and enhanced reliability, making them a preferred choice for data centers and businesses that require powerful data management solutions.

One of the standout features of the FC 3300 and FC 3305 is their support for up to 32 Gbps Fibre Channel data rates. This ensures rapid data transfer, which is crucial for applications that need to handle large volumes of data, such as video editing, scientific computing, and big data analytics. The adapters utilize ATTO's advanced technology to minimize bottlenecks, ensuring that data flows seamlessly between servers and storage systems.

The FC 3300 is engineered for environments where high availability and redundancy are paramount. It offers features such as dual-port capability, which enhances reliability and provides a fallback option in the event of a port failure. This is particularly important for mission-critical applications where downtime can have significant repercussions.

In contrast, the FC 3305 model is targeted at users requiring extensive scalability in their storage networks. With support for multiprotocol environments and advanced management features, the FC 3305 allows seamless integration with existing IT infrastructure. This capability ensures that organizations can upgrade their systems incrementally, rather than performing a complete overhaul.

Both models incorporate intelligent queue management, which optimizes data flow and improves response time. This technology is vital for applications that demand consistent performance under heavy loads. Furthermore, the cards are compatible with a wide range of operating systems and virtualization platforms, providing flexibility and ease of integration.

Security is also a key consideration in today’s data environments, and ATTO has incorporated features that safeguard data integrity during transfers. The adapters provide end-to-end data protection, using advanced encryption methods to secure information while it is in transit.

In summary, the FC 3300 and FC 3305 from ATTO Technology stand out in the market for their incredible speed, reliability, and flexible integration capabilities. With their advanced features, these Fibre Channel HBAs cater to the needs of businesses looking to optimize their storage solutions and enhance their overall data management capabilities. Whether it's supporting high-bandwidth applications or ensuring resilience in critical systems, ATTO continues to lead the way in high-performance networking solutions.