Technical data

Glossary-2
beacon A tool in which all of the port LEDs on a switch are set to flash from one side of the switch to the other,
to enable identification of an individual switch in a large fabric. A switch can be set to beacon by a CLI
command or through Brocade Advanced Web Tools.
BISR Built-in self-repair.
BIST Built-in self-test.
broadcast The transmission of data from a single source to all devices in the fabric, regardless of zoning. See also
multicast.
buffer-to-
buffer flow
control
Management of the frame transmission rate in either a point-to-point topology or in an arbitrated loop.
See also BB_Credit.
C
cascade Two or more interconnected Fibre Channel switches. Brocade SilkWorm 2000 and later switches can be
cascaded up to 239 switches, with a recommended maximum of seven interswitch links (no path longer
than eight switches). See also fabric, ISL.
CHAP Challenge-Handshake Authentication Protocol. Allows remote servers and clients to securely exchange
authentication credentials. Both the server and client are configured with the same shared secret.
chassis The metal frame in which the switch and switch components are mounted.
Class 1 service The class of frame-switching service for a dedicated connection between two communicating ports
(also called “connection-oriented service”). Includes acknowledgement of frame delivery or
nondelivery.
Class 2 service A connectionless class of frame-switching service that includes acknowledgement of frame delivery or
nondelivery.
Class 3 service A connectionless class of frame-switching service that does not include acknowledgement of frame
delivery or nondelivery. Can be used to provide a multicast connection between the frame originator
and recipients, with acknowledgement of frame delivery or nondelivery.
Class 4 service A connection-oriented service that allows fractional parts of the bandwidth to be used in a virtual
circuit.
Class 6 service A connection-oriented multicast service geared toward video broadcasts between a central server and
clients.
Class F
service
The class of frame-switching service for a direct connection between two switches, allowing
communication of control traffic between the E_Ports. Includes acknowledgement of data delivery or
nondelivery.
class of
service
A specified set of delivery characteristics and attributes for frame delivery.