Fibre Channel Primer

25 Chapter 4: Physical and Signaling Layer
Fibre
Channel
ASIC
Serializer
Deserializer
TX
RX
Media Independent Interface
Fibre
Channel
ASIC
Serializer
Deserializer
Media Independent Interface
TX
RX
Figure 4.2 Fibre Channel physical layer provides flexibility
GBIC or MIA
GLM
Nomenclature:
Speed-Media-Distance-Transmitter
Speed:
400  400 MB/s
200  200 MB/s
100  100 MB/s
50  50 MB/s
25  25 MB/s
12.5  12.5 MB/s
Media:
SM  Single Mode Fiber
M5  50/125 Multimode Fiber
M6  62.5/125 Multimode Fiber
MI  Miniature Cable - Copper
TV  Video Cable - Copper
TP  Twisted Pair - Copper
TW  Twinax - Copper
Distance:
L  Long: > 2 km
I  Intermediate: 100 m to 2 km
S  Short: < 100 m
Transmitter:
LL  Long Wave Laser (1300 to 1550 ηm)
SL  Short Wave Laser (780 to 850 ηm)
SN  Short Wave Laser (780 to 850 ηm,
without Open Fibre Control)
LE  Long Wave LED (1300 to 1550 ηm)
EL  Electrical
100- TW - S - EL
100- M5 - I - SL
are the two
most common
implementations