Specifications

Escala Tower PL & S, E, T System Hardware
Chapter 3: External Storage and SAN Subsystems 101/116
9es3s1c3.doc
Rev 5.9
02/12/2003
Hardware Components
The SilkWorm 2800 switch includes the following hardware components:
•
Motherboard containing the CPU, memories and ASICs.
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Hot swap auto-ranging power supply. An optional redundant power supply can be installed in the
switch.
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Hot swap fan assembly with redundant fans.
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Up to 16 1-gigabit-per-second (Gb/s) full duplex ports supporting ShortWave multimode GBIC
(dual SC connectors), allowing connections up to 500 m without additional link extender.
•
Front panel with buttons and display to manage the switch and launch diagnostics.
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10/100 Base T Ethernet connection (RJ45 connector).
Software Components
The SilkWorm 2800 switch includes the following software components:
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The fabric operating system allowing the operation and management of the fabric.
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A Simple Name Server, which discovers connected devices and registers/deregisters the device
information when a connection changes.
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The Registered State Change Notification: dynamic detection of changes in topology and port
status.
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Multicast Service (Alias Server): sends a single data copy simultaneously to group members.
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A switch management accessible through 5 access methods:
front panel controls located on the switch.
Telnet commands via Ethernet connection.
SNMP agent embedded in the switch.
SES (SCSI-3 Enclosure Services).
WEB based management tools.
•
Zoning Service: confines access among devices by creating logical subsets of devices for
additional management of and security in the SAN.
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Diagnostics: Embedded online and offline diagnostics.
Limitations
Translative mode, quick loop and switch interconnection are not yet validated in the AIX environment.
7.5.2. SAN Topologies & Interoperability
The SilkWorm is a fabric switch that can be interconnected with other Brocade fabric switches (such
as SilkWorm II, SilkWorm Express, SilkWorm 2000 series), regardless the supplier of the switch (Bull
or other Brocade reseller).
The certified limits for fabrics are:
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32 switches
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7 hopes
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8 inter switch links