Figure 51 Storage Area Network

Fibre Channel

Fibre Channel is an ANSI standard for high-speed computer interconnection. Using either optical or copper cables, it allows the bidirectional transmission of large data files at up to 4.25 gigabits per second, and can be deployed between sites within a 30 kilometer range. Fibre Channel is the most reliable, highest performance solution for information storage, transfer, and retrieval available today.

Fibre Channel connects nodes using three physical topologies that can have variants:

•Point-to-point

•Loop

•Switched

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Media management and devices