Fibre Channel Primer

Glossary

SONET Synchronous Optical Network. A standard for

optical network elements. Basic level is

51.840 megabit/second (OC-1); higher levels

are n times the basic rate (OC-n).

Star The physical configuration used with hubs in

which each user is connected by

communication links radiating out of a central

hub that handles all communications.

Striping A method for achieving higher bandwidth

using multiple N_Ports in parallel to transmit

a single information unit across multiple

levels.

T11 A technical committee of the National

Committee for Information Technology

Standards, titled T11 I/O Interfaces. It is

tasked with developing standards for moving

data in and out of central computers.

Time Server A Fibre Channel-defined service function that

allows for the management of all timers used

within a Fibre Channel system.

Topology The logical and/or physical arrangement of

stations on a network.

Transmitter A device that includes a source of driving

elements.

ULP Upper layer protocol

Virtual circuit A unidirectional path between two

communicating N_Ports that permits

fractional bandwidth.