Glossary

multi-switch fabric

Fibre Channel fabric created by linking more than one director or fabric switching device within a fabric.

name server

Program that translates names from one form into another. Domain name servers (DNS) translate domain names into IP addresses.

name server zoning

N_Port access management that allows N_Ports to communicate if and only if they belong to a common name server zone.

network address

Name or address that identifies a managed product on a TCP/IP network. The network address can be either an IP address in dotted-decimal notation containing four three-digit octets in the format xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx), or a domain name (as administered on a customer network).

nickname

Alternate name assigned to a world wide name for a node or director in the fabric.

node

In Fibre Channel terminology, node refers to an end device (server or storage device) that is or can be connected to a switched fabric.

node port

Physical interface within an end device which can connect to an F_Port on a switched fabric or directly to another N_Port (in point-to-point communications).

non-disruptive maintenance

Ability to service FRUs (including maintenance, installation, removal and replacement) while normal operations continue without interruption. See also concurrent maintenance.

N_Port

See node port.

offline sequence

Sequence sent by the transmitting port to indicate that it is attempting to initialize a link and has detected a problem in doing so.

OLS

See offline sequence.

operating state (Director)

The operating states are described as follows:

Online—when the director is set online, an attached device can log in to the director if the port is not blocked. Attached devices can communicate with each other if they are configured in the same zone.