User`s guide

Glossary 377
N_Port Login N_Port Login (PLOGI) allows two
N_Ports to establish a session and exchange
identities and service parameters. It is performed
following completion of the fabric login process
and prior to the FC-4 level operations with the
destination port. N_Port Login may be either
explicit or implicit.
Name Server Provides translation from a given
node name to one or more associated N_Port
identifiers.
NAS Network Attached Storage - a term used to
describe a technology where an integrated
storage system is attached to a messaging
network that uses common communications
protocols, such as TCP/IP.
NDMP Network Data Management Protocol
Network An aggregation of interconnected
nodes, workstations, file servers, and/or
peripherals, with its own protocol that supports
interaction.
Network Topology Physical arrangement of
nodes and interconnecting communications links
in networks based on application requirements
and geographical distribution of users.
NFS Network File System - A distributed file
system in UNIX developed by Sun Microsystems
which allows a set of computers to cooperatively
access each other's files in a transparent manner.
NL_Port Node Loop Port - a node port that
supports Arbitrated Loop devices.
NMS Network Management System - A system
responsible for managing at least part of a
network. NMSs communicate with agents to help
keep track of network statistics and resources.
Node An entity with one or more N_Ports or
NL_Ports.
Non-Blocking Atermusedtoindicatethatthe
capabilities of a switch are such that the total
number of available transmission paths is equal
to the number of ports. Therefore, all ports can
have simultaneous access through the switch.
Non-L_Port A Node or Fabric port that is not
capable of performing the Arbitrated Loop
functions and protocols. N_Ports and F_Ports are
not loop-capable ports.
Operation A term defined in FC-2 that refers to
one of the Fibre Channel building blocks
composed of one or more, possibly concurrent,
exchanges.
Optical Disk A storage device that is written and
read by laser light.
Optical Fiber A medium and the technology
associated with the transmission of information
as light pulses along a glass or plastic wire or
fiber.
Ordered Set A Fibre Channel term referring to
four 10 -bit characters (a combination of data and
special characters) providing low-level link
functions, such as frame demarcation and
signaling between two ends of a link.
Originator A Fibre Channel term referring to the
initiating device.
Out of Band Signaling This is signaling that is
separated from the channel carrying the
information. Also referred to as outband.
Peripheral Any computer device that is not part
of the essential computer (the processor, memory
and data paths) but is situated relatively close by.
A near synonym is input/output (I/O) device.
Petard A device that is small and sometimes
explosive.
PLDA Private Loop Direct Attach - A technical
report which defines a subset of the relevant
standards suitable for the operation of peripheral
devices such as disks and tapes on a private
loop.
PLOGI See N_Port Login
Point-to-Point Topology An interconnection
structure in which each point has physical links to
only one neighbor resulting in a closed circuit. In
point-to-point topology, the available bandwidth is
dedicated.
Port The hardware entity within a node that
performs data communications over the Fibre
Channel.