HP StorageWorks 8/80 HP StorageWorks Fabric OS 6.2 administrator guide (5697-0 - Page 461

21 Configuring and monitoring FCIP extension services FCIP concepts Fibre Channel over IP (FCIP) enables you to connect Fibre Channel SANs over IP-based networks. The HP StorageWorks 400 Multi-Protocol Router and B-Series Multi-Protocol Router Blade uses FCIP to encapsulate Fibre Channel frames within IP frames that can be sent over an IP network to a partner HP StorageWorks 400 Multi-Protocol Router or B-Series Multi-Protocol Router Blade. When the IP packets are received, the Fibre Channel frames are reconstructed. The Fibre Channel fabric and all Fibre Channel targets and initiators are unaware of the presence of the IP network. Virtual ports and FCIP tunnels Each HP StorageWorks 400 Multi-Protocol Router with an upgraded license and B-Series Multi-Protocol Router Blade presents 16 FC ports and 16 virtual ports. Each GbE interface can support up to 8 FCIP tunnels which are represented as 8 virtual ports on ge0 and 8 virtual ports on ge1. The mapping of tunnels on ge0 and ge1 to virtual port numbers is represented in Table 90. Table 90 Tunnel and virtual port numbering GbE port Tunnels Virtual ports ge0 0 16 1 17 2 18 3 19 4 20 5 21 6 22 7 23 ge1 0 24 1 25 2 26 3 27 4 28 5 29 6 30 7 31 Virtual Port Types Virtual ports may be defined as VE_Ports or VEX_Ports: • VE_Ports (virtual E_Ports) are used to create interswitch links (ISLs) through an FCIP tunnel. If VE_Ports are used on both ends of an FCIP tunnel, the fabrics connected by the tunnel are merged. • VEX_Ports enable FC-FC Routing Service functionality over an FCIP tunnel. VEX_Ports enable interfabric links (IFLs). If a VEX_Port is on one end of an FCIP tunnel, the fabrics connected by the tunnel are not merged. The other end of the tunnel must be defined as a VE_Port. VEX_Ports are not used in pairs. Figure 78 illustrates a portion of a Fibre Channel network that uses FCIP ISLs, which are VE_Ports connected over the IP WAN network, to join the office and data center SANs into a single larger SAN. Fabric OS 6.2 administrator guide 457