User`s guide

FS0054601-00 E B-1
Appendix B
Glossary
This section describes common hardware, software, and Fibre Channel terms that
are used in the SANblade Manager documentation.
Adapter An adapter is the board that interfaces between the host
system and disk. Adapter is synonymous with host
adapter, adapter board, and HBA. In SANblade
Manager documentation, the term QLA2xxx adapter is
used.
AL_PA AL_PA stands for arbitrated loop_physical address.
This is a low-level address on the Fibre Channel loop.
Arbitrated loop An arbitrated loop is a non-point-to-point circular
topology where two or more ports can be
interconnected, but only two ports can communicate at
one time. All communication is passed through all ports
connected onto the loop.
Driver Driver refers to software that interfaces between the file
system and a physical data storage device or network
media.
The level structure for Windows NT/2000 drivers is as
follows:
■ Class Driver. This is the highest driver level. There
is a separate class for disk, Ethernet, etc. This level
handles all generic aspects of operations for that
class.
■ Port Driver. This is the middle driver level, which
handles aspects of the operation specific to the port
type; for example, there is a port driver for SCSI.
■ Miniport Driver. This is the lowest driver level and
device specific. This level is usually supplied by the
manufacturer as a companion to a physical device.
■ Monolithic Driver. This level combines the functions
of different driver levels in the same driver to
increase performance.
■ Adjunct Driver. This level works along side a driver
at the same level to increase performance.