Technical data

F_Port The ports within the fabric (fabric port). This port is
called an F_port. Each F_port is assigned a 64-bit
unique node name and a 64-bit unique port name
when it is manufactured. Together, the node name
and port name make up the worldwide name.
FL_Port
An F_Port containing the loop functionality is called
an FL_Port.
Link The physical connection between an N_Port and
another N_Port or an N_Port and an F_Port. A
link consists of two connections, one to transmit
information and one to receive information. The
transmit connection on one node is the receive
connection on the node at the other end of the link.
A link may be optical fiber, coaxial cable, or shielded
twisted pair.
E_Port interswitch
expansion port
An expansion port on a switch used to make a
connection between two switches in the fabric.
6.1.2 Fibre Channel Topologies
Fibre Channel supports three different interconnect topologies:
• Point-to-point (Section 6.1.2.1)
• Fabric (Section 6.1.2.2)
• Arbitrated loop (Section 6.1.2.3)
______________________ Note _______________________
Although you can interconnect an arbitrated loop with fabric,
hybrid configurations are not supported at the present time, and
therefore are not discussed in this manual.
6–4 Using Fibre Channel Storage