Fibre Channel Primer

12 Fibre Channel: Connection to the Future
Figure 2.3 Fibre Channel enhances real-time applications
REAL-TIME APPLICATIONS
The speed and reliability of Fibre Channel is being applied to real-
time applications. For example, the B-1 bomber is now using Fibre
Channel for improved performance in the mission avionics suite.
Three different approaches for real-time, mission-critical
applications are being developed:
l Priority/pre-emption switching fabric
l Real-time, isochronous Fibre Channel loop
l Real-time, fractional bandwidth virtual circuits
The avionics industry is moving to Fibre Channel to take
advantage of the inherent benefits offered by the Fibre Channel
architecture:
l Credit-based flow control
l 8B/10B serial data encoding scheme
l Bounded media access latency, providing deterministic operational
behavior
l No data loss, even at 98% utilization during a streamed transfer
l No decrease in data throughput with increased link distances
Fibre Channel offers real-time applications the ability to keep
pace with data and signal processors as well as new sensor technology.
Industrial control systems, as well as the military, will benefit from
its speed and reliability.