Hugo Caçote @ CERN-IT Fiber Channel How-To Basic

Hugo Caçote @ CERN-IT

Fiber Channel √ How-To

Basic


Standard

• Fiber Channel is an open standard communications and transport protocol as defined by ANSI and operates over copper and fiber optic cabling at distances of up to 10 kilometers.

• Single-mode (SM) fiber allows for only one pathway, or mode, of light to travel within the fiber.

• Multi-mode (MM) fiber allows more than one mode of light. Multi-mode fiber is better suited for shorter distance applications.

• Fiber Channel Speed: up to 1Gb/s, 2Gb/s, 4Gb/s

• Maximum Transmission Unit: 64 kB … but in theory unlimited

The structure of a fiber optic cable Fiber Channel adapter cable


TopologyPoint-to-pointThis is the simplest topology to configure. A point-to-point configuration is a direct connection between two endpoints.

Arbitrated loopThis is a ring topology that shares the fiber-channel bandwidth among multiple endpoints. The loop is implemented within a hub that interconnects the endpointsAn arbitrated scheme is used to determine which endpoint gets control of the loop. The maximum number of ports is 127.

Switched fabricThis topology provides the most flexibility and makes the best use of the aggregated bandwidth by the use of switched connections between endpoints.One or more switches are interconnected to create a fabric, to which the endpoints are connected


Terminology

NodeA node is an endpoint that contains information. It can be a computer (host), a device controller, or a peripheral device (such as disk or tape drives).

PortEach node must have at least one port (hardware interface) to connect the node to the FC topology. This node port is referred to as an N_Port.Other port types include:

E_Port An expansion port is used to interconnect switches and build a switched fabric.

F_Port A fabric port is used to connect an N_Port to a switch that is not loop-capable.

FL_Port A fabric loop port is used to connect NL_Ports to a switch in a loop configuration.

G_Port A generic port is a port that has not assumed a role in the fabric.

L_Port A loop port is a port in a Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL) topology.

NL_Port A node loop port is an N_Port with loop capabilities.


Naming and addressing

• Worldwide node name (WWNN)• Worldwide port name (WWPN)This is similar to the way that all Ethernet cards have a unique MAC address (eg.0x5005076300cd9589)

• Port Addressing- Domain- Area- Port or arbitrated loop physical address ALPA


FC CERN infrastructure

Tape Robot

Tape Drives

Fiber

Qlogic Fiber Channel Bus Adapter

Tape Server


FC CERN infrastructure

Port Id: =0 x 00 00 01

Port Id: =0 x 00 00 EF

Private loop port id first 4 bytes 0 last 2 bytes ALPA table.

Port id with lowest address arbitrates the loop.


FC host bus adapter configuration

Adapter Menu

Target Menu

Main Menu

SCLI Qlogic command line interface


FC tape drive configuration

Locally in tape drive(menu, select button)

Remotely with StdsWin(if RJ-45 connection available)


FC tape drive addressing

“The unknown famous ALPA table “0x01 0x02 0x04 0x08 0x0F 0x10 0x17 0x18 0x1B

0x1D 0x1E 0x1F 0x23 0x25 0x26 0x27 0x29 0x2A

0x2B 0x2C 0x2D 0x2E 0x31 0x32 0x33 0x34 0x35

0x36 0x39 0x3A 0x3C 0x43 0x45 0x46 0x47 0x49

0x4A 0x4B 0x4C 0x4D 0x4E 0x51 0x52 0x53 0x54

0x55 0x56 0x59 0x5A 0x5C 0x63 0x65 0x66 0x67

0x69 0x6A 0x6B 0x6C 0x6D 0x6E 0x71 0x72 0x73

0x74 0x75 0x76 0x79 0x7A 0x7C 0x80 0x81 0x82

0x84 0x88 0x8F 0x90 0x97 0x98 0x9B 0x9D 0x9E

0x9F 0xA3 0xA5 0xA6 0xA7 0xA9 0xAA 0xAB 0xAC

0xAD 0xAE 0xB1 0xB2 0xB3 0xB4 0xB5 0xB6 0xB9

0xBA 0xBC 0xC3 0xC5 0xC6 0xC7 0xC9 0xCA 0xCB

0xCC 0xCD 0xCE 0xD1 0xD2 0xD3 0xD4 0xD5 0xD6

0xD9 0xDA 0xDC 0xE0 0xE1 0xE2 0xE4 0xE8 0xEF

24 bit address

08 … … … …. …. 02 01 00

Index to the ALPA table, 08 = 0xD9

Use a new Physical address each time/use the same Physical address each time

Max data size

WWPN

Search Loop Id in high/low order

99

40 ta

pe d

rive v

iew

cfg

men

u

Documents

Hugo Caçote @ CERN-IT Fiber Channel How-To Basic