Q-Logic 59021-05 manual Fabric Ports, Translated Loop Port, Expansion Port

￿	2 – General Description
	Fibre Channel Ports

G_Ports self-configure in the following ways:

■F_Port when connected to a public device

■E_Port when connected to another FC-SW-2 compliant switch

A TL_Port supports private loop devices and must be configured explicitly. Refer to the SANbox2-8c/16 Switch Management User’s Guide for more information about defining port modes.

2.2.3.1

Fabric Ports

An FL_Port can support a loop of up to 126 public devices. An FL_Port can also configure itself during the fabric login process as an F_Port when connected to a single public device (N_Port).

2.2.3.2

Translated Loop Port

A TL_Port supports a loop of up to 125 private initiator devices or up to 124 private target devices with the ability to communicate with “off-loop” devices. This includes public fabric devices and private devices on other TL_Ports. TL_Ports connect to devices that conform to the Fibre Channel-Private Loop SCSI Direct Attach (FC-PLDA) standard. Devices connected to TL_Ports are registered with the Name Server.

A TL_Port acts as a proxy for the off-loop device translating private frames into and from public frames. Each TL_Port can proxy up to 63 off-loop initiator devices or up to 64 off-loop target and initiator devices. The set of off-loop devices are maintained in the TL_Port’s translation entries list.

■For a TL_Port connected to private target devices, the switch firmware automatically creates an entry in the translation entries list for each off-loop initiator device that attempts to establish communication. Soft or VPF zoning can be used to limit the number of potential initiators to 63. Zone membership must be done by worldwide name, or domain ID and port ID.

■For a TL_Port connected to private initiator devices, the switch firmware automatically creates an entry in the translation entries list for up to 64 target and initiator devices that are members of the same soft or VPF zone. Zone membership must be done by worldwide name, or domain ID and port ID.

2.2.3.3

Expansion Port

E_Ports enable you to expand the fabric by connecting SANbox2-16 switches with other FC-SW-2 compliant switches. SANbox2-16 switches self-discover all inter-switch connections. Refer to ”Multiple Chassis Fabrics” on page 3-2for more information about multiple chassis fabrics.

59021-05 A 2-7