HP StorageWorks 4000 Compaq RAID Array 4000 Storage System: Deployment and Con - Page 4

Compaq RAID Array 4000 Storage System: Deployment and Configuration 4 Gigabit Interface Converters Gigabit interface converters (GBICs) are industry-standard connection devices that hot plug into Fibre Channel storage hubs and controllers. A GBIC converts serial electrical signals to serial optical signals for bi-directional transmission of data across the Fibre Channel media. GBICs are available in two varieties: • Short wave (GBIC-SW)-For connections up to 500 meters. A GBIC-SW provides a transmission rate of 100 megabytes per second at distances up to 500 meters using 50-micron, multi-mode fiber optic cables. 62.5-micron, multi-mode fiber optic cable is also supported, but distances are limited to 300 meters. • Long wave (GBIC-LW)-For connections between 500 meters and 10 kilometers. A GBIC-LW provides a transmission rate of 100 megabytes per second at distances up to 10 kilometers of 9-micron, single-mode fiber optic cable. GBIC-LW are not currently supported on Microsoft Cluster Server configurations. Note: GBICs on both ends of any Fibre Channel cable link must be the same type. For example, GBIC-SW must link to GBIC-SW and GBIC-LW must link to GBIC-LW. Intermixing short wave types and long wave types on any single link is functionally incompatible. Fibre Channel Storage Hubs Fibre Channel Storage Hubs accept different cable types, allowing for intermixed cable pairs within a topology, and use port bypass circuitry to keep a Fibre Channel loop topology intact. The RA4000 can be configured using a Fibre Channel Storage Hub 7 or a Fibre Channel Storage Hub 12. Fibre Channel Storage Hub 7 The Compaq Fibre Channel Storage Hub 7 is a seven-port hub that creates a 100-megabytes-per-second Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop through its internal wiring and logic. Note: GBICs on both ends of any Fibre Channel cable link must be the same type. For example, GBIC-SW must link to GBIC-SW and GBIC-LW must link to GBIC-LW. Intermixing short wave types and long wave types on any single link is functionally incompatible. A Fibre Channel Storage Hub 7 is capable of supporting: • Up to six RA4000s per hub • Up to 72 spindles per server slot • Up to 1.75 TB per server slot • Interconnect distances up to 500 meters per link using GBIC-SW • Interconnect distanced up to 10 kilometers per link using GBIC-LW 0206-0699