24 Installation Guide (AA-RTDWC-TE, July 2004)

19Edge Switch 2/24 Installation Guide

Switch 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 20

■ Switch Management, page 27

■ Operational Features, page 31

■ Optional Kits, page 37