User`s guide

374 Implementing an Open IBM SAN
X.271-1996) which defines how the ESCON
command set protocol is transported using the
fibre channel.
FC-SW Fibre Channel Switch Fabric - A
reference to the ANSI standard under
development that further defines the fabric
behavior described in FC-FG and defines the
communications between different fabric
elements required for those elements to
coordinate their operations and management
address assignment.
FC Storage Director See SAN Storage Director
FCA Fibre Channel Association - a Fibre Channel
industry association that works to promote
awareness and understanding of the Fibre
Channel technology and its application and
provides a means for implementers to support the
standards committee activities.
FCLC Fibre Channel Loop Association - an
independent working group of the Fibre Channel
Association focused on the marketing aspects of
the Fibre Channel Loop technology.
FCP Fibre Channel Protocol - the mapping of
SCSI-3 operations to Fibre Channel.
Fiber Optic Refers to the medium and the
technology associated with the transmission of
information along a glass or plastic wire or fiber.
Fibre Channel A technology for transmitting data
between computer devices at a data rate of up to
4 Gb/s. It is especially suited for connecting
computer servers to shared storage devices and
for interconnecting storage controllers and drives.
FICON Fibre Connection - A next-generation I/O
solution for IBM S/390 parallel enterprise server.
FL_Port Fabric Loop Port - the access point of
the fabric for physically connecting the user's
Node Loop Port (NL_Port).
FLOGI See Fabric Log In
Frame A linear set of transmitted bits that define
the basic transport unit. The frame is the most
basic element of a message in Fibre Channel
communications, consisting of a 24-byte header
andzeroto2112bytesofdata.Seealso:
Sequence
FSP Fibre Channel Service Protocol - The
common FC-4 level protocol for all services,
transparent to the fabric type or topology.
Full-Duplex A mode of communications allowing
simultaneous transmission and reception of
frames.
G_Port Generic Port - a generic switch port that
is either a Fabric Port (F_Port) or an Expansion
Port (E_Port). The function is automatically
determined during login.
Gateway A node on a network that interconnects
two otherwise incompatible networks.
Gb/s Gigabits per second. Also sometimes
referred to as Gbps. In computing terms it is
approximately 1,000,000,000 bits per second.
Most precisely it is 1,073,741,824 (1024 x 1024 x
1024) bits per second.
GB/s Gigabytes per second. Also sometimes
referred to as GBps. In computing terms it is
approximately 1,000,000,000 bytes per second.
Most precisely it is 1,073,741,824 (1024 x 1024 x
1024) bytes per second.
GBIC GigaBit Interface Converter - Industry
standard transceivers for connection of Fibre
Channel nodes to arbitrated loop hubs and fabric
switches.
Gigabit One billion bits, or one thousand
megabits.
GLM Gigabit Link Module - a generic Fibre
Channel transceiver unit that integrates the key
functions necessary for installation of a Fibre
channel media interface on most systems.
Half-Duplex A mode of communications allowing
either transmission or reception of frames at any
point in time, but not both (other than link control
frames which are always permitted).
Hardware The mechanical, magnetic and
electronic components of a system, e.g.,
computers, telephone switches, terminals and the
like.
HBA Host Bus Adapter
HIPPI High Performance Parallel Interface - An
ANSI standard defining a channel that transfers