HP StorageWorks XPath OS 7.4.X Command Reference Guide (AA-RVHCC-TE, September 2005)
XPath OS 7.4.x command reference guide 293
meta-SAN The collection of all devices, switches, edge and backbone fabrics, LSANs, and FC routers that
make up a physically connected but logically partitioned storage network. LSANs span
between edge fabrics using FC routers. In a data network, this would simply be called the
network. However, an additional term is required to specify the difference between a
single-fabric network (SAN), a multifabric network without cross-fabric connectivity
(dual-redundant fabric SAN), and a multifabric network with connectivity (meta-SAN).
metric A relative value assigned to a route to aid in calculating the shortest path (1000 at 1 Gb/s,
500 at 2 Gb/s).
MIA Media interface adapter. A device that converts optical connections to copper ones, and vice
versa.
MIB Management Information Base. An SNMP structure to help with device management,
providing configuration and device information.
MMF Multimode fiber. See also SWL.
MRK Mark primitive signal. Used only in arbitrated loop, MRK is transmitted by an L_Port for
synchronization and is vendor specific.
MS Management Server. The Management Server allows a storage area network (SAN)
management application to retrieve information and administer the fabric and interconnected
elements, such as switches, servers, and storage devices. The MS is located at the Fibre
Channel well-known address FFFFFAh.
MSD Management Server daemon. Monitors the MS. Includes the Fabric Configuration Service and
the Unzoned Name Server.
MTBF Mean time between failures. An expression of time, indicating the longevity of a device.
multicast The transmission of data from a single source to multiple specified N_Ports (as opposed to all
the ports on the network). See also broadcast, unicast.
multimode A fiber optic cabling specification that allows up to 500 meters between devices.
N_Port Node port. A port on a node that can connect to a Fibre Channel port or to another N_Port in
a point-to-point connection. See also NL_Port, Nx_Port.
NAS Network attached storage. A disk array connected to a controller that gives access through a
LAN.
NDMP Network Data Management Protocol. Used for tape backup without using server resources.
NL_Port Node loop port. A node port that has arbitrated loop capabilities. Used to connect an
equipment port to the fabric in a loop configuration through an FL_Port. See also Nx_Port.
node A Fibre Channel device that contains an N_Port or NL_Port.
node count The number of nodes attached to a fabric.
node name The unique identifier for a node, communicated during login and port discovery.
Nonparticipating
Mode
A mode in which an L_Port in a loop is inactive and cannot arbitrate or send frames but can
retransmit received transmissions. This mode is entered if there are more than 127 devices in a
loop and an AL_PA cannot be acquired. See also L_Port, Participating Mode.
NOS Not operational. The NOS primitive sequence is transmitted to indicate that the FC_Port
transmitting the NOS has detected a link failure or is offline, waiting for the offline sequence
(OLS) to be received.
NS Name Server. The service provided by a fabric switch that stores names, addresses, and
attributes related to Fibre Channel objects. Can cache information for up to 15 minutes. Also
known as Simple Name Server or as a directory service. See also Simple Name Server.
NSCAM Name Server Cache Manager. Updates the Name Server (NS) databases across switches as
a background task.
Nx_Port A node port that can operate as either an N_Port or an NL_Port.
OFC Open fiber control. A method used to enable and disable laser signaling for higher-intensity
laser transceivers.
OLS Primitive sequence offline.