Compaq AA-RHGWB-TE manual Fabric Topology, Arbitrated Loop Topology

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 that a frame gets delivered to its destination.

Figure 6–2 shows an example fabric topology.

Figure 6–2: Fabric Topology

Node 1

N_Port

Node 2

N_Port

Transmit Transmit

Receive Receive

Transmit Transmit

Receive Receive

F_Port F_Port

Fabric

F_Port F_Port

Transmit Transmit

Receive Receive

Transmit Transmit

Receive Receive

Node 3

N_Port

Node 4

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