958-000283-003, March 2005)

Table Of Contents

Edge Switch 2/24 installation guide 13

1Switch features

The HP StorageWorks Edge Switch 2/24 provides dynamic switched connections between Fibre

Channel servers and devices in a storage area network (SAN) environment. SANs introduce the

concept of server-to-device networking and multi-switch fabrics, eliminate requirements for

dedicated connections, and enable the enterprise to become data centric.

A SAN provides speed, high capacity, and flexibility for the enterprise, and is primarily based upon

Fibre Channel architecture. The switch implements Fibre Channel technology that provides a

bandwidth of 2.125 Gbps, redundant switched data paths, a scalable number of active ports, and

long transmission distances.

This chapter describes the switch and attached HP StorageWorks HA-Fabric Manager appliance

(HAFM). The chapter specifically discusses:

• Edge Switch 2/24 description, page 13

• Switch management, page 18

• Operational features, page 20

• Optional kits, page 24

Edge Switch 2/24 description

The Edge Switch 2/24 provides Fibre Channel connectivity through 24 generic mixed ports

(GX_Ports). Switch ports can be configured as:

• Fabric ports (F_Ports) to provide direct connectivity for up to 24 switched fabric devices.

• Fabric loop ports (FL_Ports) to provide arbitrated loop connectivity and fabric attachment for

FC-AL devices. Each FL_Port can theoretically support the connection of 126 FC-AL devices.

• Expansion ports (E_Ports) to provide interswitch link (ISL) connectivity to fabric directors and

switches.

The switch, shown in Figure 1 on page 14, provides dynamic switched connections for servers and

devices, supports mainframe and open-systems interconnection (OSI) computing environments, and

provides data transmission and flow control between device node ports (N_Ports) as dictated by the

Fibre Channel Physical and Signaling Interface (FC-PH 4.3). Through interswitch links (ISLs), the

switch can connect additional switches to form a Fibre Channel multi-switch fabric.