HP StorageWorks 4000 Compaq RAID Array 4000 Overview - Page 11

Compaq RAID Array 4000 Overview 11 Gigabit Interface Converters GBICs are available in two varieties: • Shortwave (GBIC-SW) for connections up to 500 meters. • Longwave (GBIC-LW) for connections between 500 meters and 10 kilometers. These industry-standard connection devices hot plug into the storage hubs and controllers. GBICs convert serial electrical signals into optical signals for transmission across the Fibre Channel media. GBICs also convert optical signals received from the Fibre Channel media into electrical signals. A GBIC-SW provides: • A transmission rate of 100 MB/s in each direction. • A transmission distance of up to 200 meters between components using 62.5 micron, multi-mode fiber optic cable. • A transmission distance of up to 500 meters between components using 50-micron, multi-mode fiber optic cables. A GBIC-LW provides: • A transmission rate of 100 MB/s in each direction. • A transmission distance of up to 10 kilometers between components using 9-micron, single-mode fiber optic cables. Figure 5. Gigabit interface converter A GBIC is required for each connection in an RA4000. GBIC-SWs are provided with RA4000s and Fibre Channel Host Adapters. GBIC-LWs and single-mode fiber optic cables, as well as additional GBIC-SWs and multi-mode cables, can be purchased separately. For trouble-free operation, keep Fibre Channel connectors and GBICs clean. To protect them from contamination, GBICs and fiber cables are shipped with dust caps installed. Remove dust caps only to make an optical connection. Reinstall the dust caps whenever the cables or GBICs are disconnected. Compaq products ship with instructions for making clean connections. Cleaning should be performed any time that an open connection might have been exposed to dust or that there is doubt about the connector's cleanliness. A cleaning kit is available from Compaq for this purpose. ECG0205699A