Compaq AA-RHGWB-TE manual Fibre Channel Topologies, NLPort

	is manufactured. An N_Port is connected directly
	to another N_Port in a point-to-point topology. An
	N_Port is connected to an F_Port in a fabric topology.
NL_Port	In an arbitrated loop topology, information is routed
	around a loop. The information is repeated by each
	intermediate port until it reaches its destination.
	The N_Port that contains this additional loop
	functionality is an NL_Port.
Fabric	A switch, or multiple interconnected switches,
	that route frames between the originator node
	(transmitter) and destination node (receiver).
F_Port	The ports within the fabric (fabric port). This port is
	called an F_port. Each F_port is assigned a 64-bit
	unique node name and a 64-bit unique port name
	when it is manufactured. Together, the node name
	and port name make up the worldwide name.
FL_Port	An F_Port containing the loop functionality is called
	an FL_Port.
Link	The physical connection between an N_Port and
	another N_Port or an N_Port and an F_Port. A
	link consists of two connections, one to transmit
	information and one to receive information. The
	transmit connection on one node is the receive
	connection on the node at the other end of the link.
	A link may be optical fibre, coaxial cable, or shielded
	twisted pair.
E_Port	An expansion port on a switch used to make a
	connection between two switches in the fabric.

6.2.2 Fibre Channel Topologies

Fibre Channel supports three different interconnect topologies:

•Point-to-point (Section 6.2.2.1)

•Fabric (Section 6.2.2.2)

Using Fibre Channel Storage 6–5