HP SureStore E Tape Library Models 2/20, 4/40, and 6/60 - (English) User's Guide

C-8 Appendix C
Introduction to Fibre Channel
Fibre Channel Technology
Connection Topologies
Fibre Channel uses three connection topologies, which are described in
the table below.
Table C-1 Fibre Channel Topologies
Topology Description Advantages/
Disadvantages
Point to point Two devices connected
directly together.
• Low cost, high
performance.
• Limited topology
(only allows two
devices).
Fibre Channel
Arbitrated
Loop (FC-AL)
Connects up to 127
devices through one or
more Fibre Channel
hubs. Loops can be
private or public. Private
loops are not connected
to a fabric. Public loops
are connected to a fabric.
• Supports more
devices than
point-to-point.
• Limits the combined
data transfer rate to
100 MBps.
Fabric (FC-SW) Supports up to 16
million devices
connected through a
series of fabric switches,
similar to an Ethernet
network.
• Supports multiple
devices without
limiting
performance.
• High cost per port.