Connecting devices to the switch | RCA Fibre Channel Switch guide

Connecting devices to the switch

Follow the instructions in the SANbox2 Fibre Channel Switch Installer’s/User’s Manual to connect your Profile systems and other devices to the Fibre Channel switch. You should also take note of the following guidelines when setting up your fabric environment.

Cable lengths

Use the appropriate cable types and GBICs (Gigabit Interface Converters) or SFPs (Small Form-factor Pluggable Transceiver) for the length of your Fibre Channel connections. In general, distances under 5 meters can be connected with copper cables. Distances from 5 to 500 meters require the use of fiber-optic cable.

Fabric topology

Your choices in switch interconnections can greatly affect the cost, redundancy, and throughput of your Fibre Channel fabric. The number and connection strategy of inter-switch links defines your fabric’s capabilities.

Refer to the SANbox2 Fibre Channel Switch Installer’s/User’s Manual for detailed information on fabric topology.

NOTE: You must not connect a Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop to a Fibre Channel Switch port. Grass Valley does not support loops in a fabric environment.

Compatible Fibre Channel Devices

The QLogic SANbox2 Switch has been qualified for operation with the following devices.

•Profile XP Media Platform (Video Network and Media Area Network)

•Profile PDR Video Server (Video Network)

•PFC500 RAID storage

•PFR500 RAID storage

•NewsEdit Digital News Production system

•SANValley Video Gateway

•SGI Origin server

•Avid Newscutter

The QLogic SANbox2 Switch has not been qualified for operation with the following devices. Do not connect them to a QLogic SANbox2 Switch.

•Brocade Fibre Channel Switch

•Profile PDR100 Professional Disk Recorder

16 April, 2003