g-2 EMC Connectrix DS-32B2 and ED-12000B Fabric OS Reference Manual
Glossary
Alias Address
Identifier An address identifier recognized by a port in addition to its standard
identifier. An alias address identifier may be shared by multiple
ports.
Alias Server A fabric software facility that supports multicast group management.
AL_PA Arbitrated loop physical address. A unique 8-bit value assigned
during loop initialization to a port in an arbitrated loop.
ANSI American National Standards Institute. The governing body for Fibre
Channel standards in the U.S.A.
API Application programming interface. A defined protocol that allows
applications to interface with a set of services.
Arbitrated
Loop A shared Fibre Channel transport structured as a loop. Supports up
to 126 devices and one fabric attachment. See also Topology.
Area Number A number assigned to each potential port location in the ED- 12000B.
Used to distinguish ED- 12000B ports that have the same port
number but are on different port cards.
ASIC Application-specific integrated circuit.
ATM Asynchronous transfer mode. A transport used for transmitting data
over LANs or WANs that transmit fixed-length units of data.
Provides any-to-any connectivity, and allows nodes to transmit
simultaneously.
Auto-Negotiate
Speed Process that allows two devices at either end of a link segment to
negotiate common features, speed (e.g., 1 or 2 Gb/s) and functions.
Autosense Process during which a network device automatically senses the
speed of another device.
B
Backup FCS Switch Backup fabric configuration server switch. The switch or switches
assigned as backup in case the primary FCS switch fails. See also FCS
Switch and Primary FCS Switch.
Bandwidth The total transmission capacity of a cable, link, or system. Usually
measured in bps (bits per second). May also refer to the range of
transmission frequencies available to a network. See also Throughput.