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Glossary

A

Access Control List

Access Control List zoning divides the fabric for purposes of controlling

Zone

discovery and inbound traffic.

Active Zone Set

The zone set that defines the current zoning for the fabric.

Active Firmware

The firmware image on the switch that is in use.

Activity LED

A port LED that indicates when frames are entering or leaving the port.

Administrative State

State that determines the operating state of the port, I/O blade, or switch. The

 

configured administrative state is stored in the switch configuration. The

 

configured administrative state can be temporarily overridden using the

 

command line interface.

Alarm

A message generated by the switch that specifically requests attention.

 

Alarms are generated by several switch processes. Some alarms can be

 

configured.

Alias

A named set of ports or devices. An alias is not a zone, and can not have a

 

zone or another alias as a member.

AL_PA

Arbitrated Loop Physical Address

Arbitrated Loop

A Fibre Channel topology where ports use arbitration to establish a

 

point-to-point circuit.

Arbitrated Loop

A unique one-byte value assigned during loop initialization to each NL_Port

Physical Address

on a loop.

(AL_PA)

 

ASIC

Application Specific Integrated Circuit. A chip designed for a specific

 

applications, such as a transmission protocol or a computer.

Auto Save

Zoning parameter that determines whether changes to the active zone set that

 

a switch receives from other switches in the fabric will be saved to permanent

 

memory on that switch.

Glossary

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McDATA 4314 manual Glossary, Administrative State

4314 specifications

The McDATA 4314 is a highly regarded Fibre Channel switch designed for enterprise storage area networks (SANs). This switch is particularly known for its reliability, high performance, and scalability. As part of McDATA's extensive range of networking products, the 4314 stands out for its ability to meet the demands of modern data centers, providing seamless connectivity for numerous storage and server devices.

One of the main features of the McDATA 4314 is its robust architecture, which supports up to 32 ports. This enables a flexible configuration that can easily scale as the needs of the organization grow. The switch is characterized by its ability to handle both FC-AL and FC-SW protocols, thus providing compatibility with a wide range of existing Fibre Channel devices. This versatility makes it ideal for organizations looking to enhance their existing infrastructure without the need for a complete overhaul.

In terms of performance, the McDATA 4314 supports high bandwidth requirements, with each port capable of delivering up to 4 Gbps. This high throughput is critical for data-intensive applications, ensuring low latency access to data stored on SAN devices. Additionally, the switch incorporates advanced technologies such as dynamic load balancing and intelligent pathing, which further optimize traffic flow and enhance overall system performance.

Security is a key consideration in any data center environment, and the McDATA 4314 addresses this with features such as zoning and masking. These capabilities ensure that only authorized devices can access specific data, safeguarding sensitive information from potential breaches. Moreover, the switch supports management protocols like SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), allowing for seamless integration into existing network management systems and enabling administrators to monitor performance and troubleshoot efficiently.

In terms of characteristics, the McDATA 4314 is designed for high availability, with redundant components that minimize downtime in critical environments. Furthermore, its compact form factor allows for efficient rack space utilization, making it a practical choice for organizations with space constraints.

Overall, the McDATA 4314 Fibre Channel switch provides a combination of performance, reliability, and scalability, making it an ideal choice for enterprise environments. Its advanced features and robust design ensure that organizations can maintain high levels of performance while effectively managing their storage networks. Whether supporting virtualized environments or managing extensive data storage, the McDATA 4314 is a valuable asset for any data center infrastructure.