HP 6125XLG R2306-HP 6125XLG Blade Switch FCoE Configuration Guide - Page 9

Port modes, Communication flow

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Figure 2 Structure of an FC address A Domain_ID can uniquely identify an FC switch. Different FC switches in the same fabric have different Domain_IDs. An FC address can uniquely identify an N_Port on a node. Different N_Ports on the same node have different FC addresses. FC switches use Domain_IDs to route messages between each other. The FC protocol standardizes the FC address usage. For more information, see "Appendixes." Port modes In a switched fabric, nodes and FC switches communicate through interfaces of different modes. Figure 3 Port modes N_Port Server F_Port E_Port F_Port FC switch N_Port N_Port Disk E_Port F_Port F_Port FC switch N_Port Disk Disk A node has the following port modes: • N_Port-Directly connects to a fabric. • NL_Port-Connects to a fabric through an arbitrated loop. An FC switch provides the following port modes: • F_Port-Connects to an N_Port or an NP_Port on another FC switch. • E_Port-Connects to an E_Port on another FC switch. • NP_Port-Connects to an F_Port on another FC switch. For more information about NP_Port, see "Configuring NPV." E_Ports connect FC switches to form a fabric, and F_Ports connect the nodes to FC switches in the fabric. Communication flow FC switches provide data transmission services. Through FC switches, a server sends instructions and data to disk devices and reads data from disk devices. 3

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3
Figure 2
Structure of an FC address
A Domain_ID can uniquely identify an FC switch. Different FC switches in the same fabric have different
Domain_IDs.
An FC address can uniquely identify an N_Port on a node. Different N_Ports on the same node have
different FC addresses. FC switches use Domain_IDs to route messages between each other.
The FC protocol standardizes the FC address usage. For more information, see "
Appendixes
."
Port modes
In a switched fabric, nodes and FC switches communicate through interfaces of different modes.
Figure 3
Port modes
A node has the following port modes:
•
N_Port
—Directly connects to a fabric.
•
NL_Port
—Connects to a fabric through an arbitrated loop.
An FC switch provides the following port modes:
•
F_Port
—Connects to an N_Port or an NP_Port on another FC switch.
•
E_Port
—Connects to an E_Port on another FC switch.
•
NP_Port
—Connects to an F_Port on another FC switch. For more information about NP_Port, see
"
Configuring NPV
."
E_Ports connect FC switches to form a fabric, and F_Ports connect the nodes to FC switches in the fabric.
Communication flow
FC switches provide data transmission services. Through FC switches, a server sends instructions and
data to disk devices and reads data from disk devices.
E_Port
E_Port
F_Port
F_Port
F_Port
F_Port
N_Port
N_Port
N_Port
N_Port
Server
Disk
Disk
Disk
FC switch
FC switch