connected by the fabric switching function, which routes the frame from one
F_Port to another F_Port within the switch. Communication between two
switches is routed between two expansion ports (E_Ports).
When an N_Port is connected to an F_Port, the fabric is responsible for the
assignment of the Fibre Channel address to the N_Port attached to the
fabric. The fabric is also responsible for selecting the route a frame will take,
within the fabric, to be delivered to the destination.
When the fabric consists of multiple switches, the fabric can determine an
alternate route to ensure thata frame gets delivered to its destination.
Figure 6–2 shows an example fabric topology.
Figure 6–2: Fabric Topology
N_Port
Node 1
Node 2
Transmit
Receive
Transmit
Receive
Transmit
Receive
Transmit
Receive
Transmit
Receive
Transmit
Receive
Transmit
Receive
Transmit
Receive
F_Port
Fabric
Node 3
Node 4
F_Port
F_PortF_Port N_Port
N_Port
N_Port
ZK-1536U-AI
6.2.2.3 Arbitrated Loop Topology
In an arbitrated loop topology,frames are routed around a loop created by
the links between the nodes.
In an arbitrated loop topology,a node port is called an NL_Port (node loop
port), and a fabric port is called an FL_Port (fabric loop port).
Figure 6–3 shows an example arbitrated loop topology.
Using Fibre Channel Storage 6–7