HP StorageWorks 2/24 FW 07.00.00/HAFM SW 08.06.00 McDATA Products in a SAN Env - Page 156
Logical Connectivity, transmit Class 2 and Class 3 Fibre Channel traffic data frames
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Implementing SAN Internetworking Solutions 4 Instead of Class F frame transmission, routing communication is provided by Fibre Channel network address translation (FC_NAT) technology. This is similar to the technology used by IP networks to convert private addresses to public addresses. The principal switch in each router-connected fabric assigns the Domain_ID to the associated R_Port acting as an edge switch. The switch priority for an R_Port is set to a hexadecimal value of FF and cannot be changed, therefore an R_Port cannot become the principal switch in the fabric. The implication of a virtual edge switch is that each director or switch connected to a SAN router has no knowledge of other directors or switches (unless they are physically connected through E_Port ISLs). This means: • If two Fibre Channel fabrics are connected to a SAN router, the result is not one large fabric but the two fabrics interconnected by the router. Each fabric maintains its autonomous nature. • If multiple fabrics are routed as part of an mSAN, connecting a new fabric to the router is a nondisruptive event to the existing fabrics. • Only authorized (zoned) connections between devices can transmit Class 2 and Class 3 Fibre Channel traffic (data frames) across routed SANs. • Switch registered state change notifications (SW_RSCN) frames transmitted through an R_Port to the router are retransmitted to authorized (zoned) devices in another router-attached fabric. • Each fabric has access to a full Domain_ID space, independent of other router-attached fabrics. SAN routing provides the benefits of shared data and device access, while eliminating interoperability and fabric rebuilding issues. This enables development of complex, scalable, network storage solutions that outperform traditional Fibre Channel fabrics. Logical Connectivity While each R_Port is assigned a Domain_ID by the principal switch of the attached fabric, the router reserves and manages two internal routing domains with proxy Domain_IDs 30 (hexadecimal 7E) and 31 (hexadecimal 7F). 4-12 McDATA Products in a SAN Environment - Planning Manual