HP StorageWorks 64 FW 07.00.00/HAFM SW 08.06.00 McDATA Products in a SAN Envir - Page 34
Intrepid 6064 Director, Multiple service class support
View all HP StorageWorks 64 manuals
Add to My Manuals
Save this manual to your list of manuals |
Page 34 highlights
Introduction to McDATA Multi-Protocol Products 1 - A multiswitch fabric topology provides the ability to connect directors (and other McDATA switch elements) through expansion ports (E_Ports) and interswitch links (ISLs) to form a Fibre Channel fabric. Director elements receive data from a device and, based on the destination N_Port address, route the data through the fabric (and possibly through multiple switch elements) to the destination device. - An arbitrated loop topology connects multiple device node loop (NL_Ports) in a loop (or hub) configuration without benefit of a multiswitch fabric. Although directors do not support direct connection of arbitrated loop devices, such devices can communicate with directors through the McDATA Sphereon 4300 and Sphereon 4500 Switches. • Multiple service class support - The Fibre Channel signaling protocol provides several classes of transmission service that support framing protocol and flow control between ports. Directors support: - Class 2 transmission service that provides connectionless multiplexed frame delivery service with acknowledgment. Class 2 service is best suited for mainstream computing applications. - Class 3 transmission service that provides connectionless, best-effort multiplexed datagram frame delivery with no acknowledgment. Class 3 service is best suited for mass storage or video applications. - Class F transmission service that is used by multiple directors (or fabric elements) to communicate across ISLs to configure, control, and coordinate the behavior of a multiswitch fabric. Intrepid 6064 Director The Intrepid 6064 Director is a second-generation, enterprise-class product that provides switched fabric connectivity for up to 64 Fibre Channel devices. The product provides high-performance scalable bandwidth, highly-available operation, redundant switched data paths, long transmission distances (up to 20 km), and high device population. Figure 1-2 illustrates the director. 1-8 McDATA Products in a SAN Environment - Planning Manual