Glossary

backplane

The backplane provides 48 VDC power distribution and connections for all logic cards.

backup FRU

When an active FRU fails, an identical backup FRU takes over operation automatically (failover) to maintain director and Fibre Channel link operation.

beaconing

Use of light-emitting diodes on ports, port cards, field-replaceable units, and directors to aid in the fault-isolation process; when enabled, active beaconing will cause LEDs to flash for selected components.

BB_Credit

Also known as Buffer-to-Buffer Credit. Indicates the maximum number of frames a port can transmit without receiving a receive ready signal from the receiving device.

ber

See bit error rate.

bidirectional

In Fibre Channel, the capability to simultaneously communicate at maximum speeds (100 Mbps) in both directions over a link.

bit error rate

Ratio of received bits that contain errors to total of all bits transmitted.

blocked port

Devices communicating with the port are prevented from logging into the director or communicating with other devices attached to the director. A blocked port continuously transmits the offline sequence.

bridge

Device that connects and passes packets between two network segments that use the same communications protocol.

broadcast

Send a transmission to all N_Ports on a fabric.

broadcast frames

Data packet, also known as a broadcast packet, whose destination address specifies all computers on a network. See also multicast.

buffer

Storage area for data in transit. Buffers compensate for differences in processing speeds between devices. See also BB_Credit.

CHPID

See channel path identifier.