Q-Logic 64 manual Port Modes, Fabric Ports, Expansion Port, Ethernet Port

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2 – General Description Ethernet Port

2.3.3

Port Modes

SANbox2-64 switches support the following port modes:

„Generic ports (GL_Port and G_Port)

„Fabric ports (FL_Port and F_Port)

„Expansion ports (E_Port)

Switches come from the factory with all ports configured as GL_Ports. GL_Ports self-configure in the following ways:

„FL_Port when connected to a loop of public devices

„F_Port when connected to a single public device. If the device is a single device on a loop, the GL_Port will attempt to configure first as an F_Port, then if that fails, as an FL_Port.

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

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

Refer to the SANbox2-64 Switch Management User’s Guide for more information about defining port modes.

2.3.3.1

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).

2.3.3.2

Expansion Port

E_Ports enable you to expand the fabric by connecting SANbox2-64 switches with other FC-SW-2 compliant switches. SANbox2-64 switches self-discover all inter-switch connections. Refer to ”Multiple Chassis Fabrics” on page 3-4for more information about multiple chassis fabrics.

2.4

Ethernet Port

The Ethernet port shown in Figure 2-7is an RJ-45 connector that provides a connection to a management workstation. A management workstation can be a Windows, Solaris™, or a Linux® workstation that is used to configure and manage the switch fabric. You can manage the switch over an Ethernet connection using SANbox Manager, the Command Line Interface (CLI), or SNMP. The switch through which the fabric is managed is called the fabric management switch.

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