Fibre Channel port configuration

When the Fibre Channel port is selected in Ports menu, the Fibre Channel Configuration screen is displayed (see Figure 25).

Figure 25 Fibre Channel port 0 configuration settings screen

Fibre Channel port settings:

•Link Status indicates the port link status.

•Port Mode (default: N_Port) sets the port mode. Port Mode settings:

•Auto Sense: In this mode, the Fibre Channel port tries to negotiate as a loop. If it is not successful, then the Fibre Channel port negotiates as a fabric. If the port comes up as a loop, it then determines whether it is on a private or public loop.

•N_Port: (default) This mode allows the interface card to bypass the loop negotiation and come up as a fabric only. If the interface card is on a loop, and N_Port mode is selected, an error in communication may occur.

•Use Hard AL_PA enables or disables Hard AL_PA usage.

•Hard AL_PA Settings displays the AL_PA Lookup Table.

Use the table to find the node number. This unique one-byte valid value (derived from an Arbitrated Loop Topology defined in ANSI specification FC_AL version 4.5) is used for the Fibre Channel configuration.

•Discovery Mode (default: Manual Discovery Only) determines how the interface card discovers new Fibre Channel devices.

Discovery mode settings:

•Auto Discovery on Reboot allows the interface card to automatically discover all Fibre Channel devices when rebooted or when link-up events occur, such as connecting cables or rebooting network hubs.

• Both the ports and the devices behind the ports are discovered on all subsequent link-up events.

•Discovery on Link Up allows the interface card to automatically discover all Fibre Channel devices when rebooted or when link-up events occur, such as connecting cables or rebooting network hubs.

42 Visual manager user interface