HP Surestore E Tape Library Model 6/60 HP SureStore E Tape Library Models 2/20 - Page 213

NOTE CAUTION Introduction to Fibre Channel Fibre Channel Technology Optical interfaces support greater distances. ANSI specifies multiple optical interfaces that use lasers, LEDs, and cable types. Generally, cables that support greater distances are more expensive than cables that support shorter distances. Optical cable considerations include the following: • Cable between two nodes must use the same core size. • Three core sizes supported by Fibre Channel are 62.5 microns multi-mode up to 175 meters; 50 microns multi-mode up to 500 meters; 9 microns single mode up to 10km (with a long-wave GBIC). (These numbers are based on a 1-Gigabit per second data rate.) The limitation on mixing core sizes applies only to a cable between two nodes and is only a concern when splicing or connecting optical cables directly together. It does not apply when connecting through a hub or switch. Laser Power Control Systems Two types of systems are approved for use: OFC (Open Fibre Control) and non-OFC (recommended). These two control systems can exist on the same network, but are not optically compatible and should not be hooked up to the same optical cable. Error Recovery Fibre Channel devices are susceptible to ESD disruption from anywhere on the loop. These disruptions are related to the system environment and not an inherent failure of the hardware. Fibre Channel systems, like LAN systems, are subject to dynamic configuration changes and data transfer disruptions. Fibre Channel can detect these disruptions, but requires error recovery procedures to continue operations. Applications using Fibre Channel should implement a more robust error recovery procedure than is needed in a SCSI environment. Fibre Channel Appendix C C- 15