Major Fibre Channel Port Features

Figure 1-2shows a possible topology of a Segmented Loop. In this figure, there are three distinct loop segments that have been linked (placed in the same segmented loop zone) together by the Switch as a single Segmented Loop. This means that all three loop segments share the same address space (same set of Arbitrated Loop Physical Addresses (AL_PAs)). All devices on the Segmented Loop can see all other devices as though they were attached to their local loop segment.

Private Loop

Segment

Hub SL_Port

Switch

SL_Port

SL_Port

Hub

Private Loop

Segment

ST2

Hub

ST1

 

Private Loop

Segment

ST3

Server 3

Server 2

Figure 1-2 Segmented Loop Topology Example

Segmented Loop Features

Switch management allows you to designate any or all ports on a SANbox-16 chassis as SL_Ports.

SL_Ports connect to devices that conform to the Fibre Channel-Private Loop SCSI Direct Attach (FC-PLDA) standard. If you place a Public Fibre Channel device on an SL_Port it becomes a Private device and (like other Private devices) cannot communicate off the loop.

Each SL_Port can support up to 126 devices.

Each SL_Port automatically discovers the devices connected to it.

Switch management allows you to link up to 32 segments (SL_Ports) together in the same segmented loop zone (even across multiple chassis in the same fabric) to form a Segmented Private Loop. The aggregate total number of devices in the linked SL_Ports must not exceed 126 devices and all AL_PAs within the linked segments must be unique

1-4General Description

 

SANbox-16HA Fibre Channel Switch

59005-03 Rev. A

Installer’s/User’s Manual

Page 22
Image 22
Q-Logic 16HA user manual Private Loop Segment, Switch