Installation guide

2 – General Description
Fibre Channel Ports
59055-00 B 2-7
D
2.2.2
Transceivers
The SANbox 5200 switch supports SFP optical transceivers for the 1Gbps/2Gbps
ports and XPAK optical transceivers for the 10 Gbps ports. A transceiver converts
electrical signals to and from optical laser signals to transmit and receive data.
Duplex fiber optic cables plug into the transceivers which then connect to the
devices. A 1Gbps/2Gbps port is capable of transmitting at 1 Gbps or 2 Gbps;
however, the transceiver must be capable of 2 Gbps for the port to deliver at that
rate.
The SFP and XPAK transceivers are hot pluggable. This means that you can
remove or install a transceiver while the switch is operating without harming the
switch or the transceiver. However, communication with the connected device will
be interrupted. Refer to ”Install Transceivers” on page 4-5 for information about
installing and removing SFP and XPAK optical transceivers.
2.2.3
Port Types
SANbox 5200 switches support generic ports (G_Port, GL_Port), fabric ports
(F_Port, FL_Port), and expansion ports (E_Port). Switches come from the factory
with all 1Gbps/2Gbps ports configured as GL_Ports. The 10 Gbps ports come
from the factory configured as G_Ports. Generic, fabric, and expansion ports
function as follows:
 A GL_Port self-configures as an FL_Port when connected to a public loop
device, as an F_Port when connected to a single public device, or as an
E_Port when connected to another FC-SW-2 compliant switch.
 A G_Port self-configures as an F_Port when connected to a single public
device, or as an E_Port when connected to another FC-SW-2 compliant
switch.
 An FL_Port supports a loop of up to 126 public devices. An FL_Port can also
configure itself during the fabric login process as an F_Port when connected
to a single public device (N_Port).
 An F_Port supports a single public device. If the device is a single device on
a loop, the GL_Port will attempt to configure first as an F_Port, then if that
fails, as an FL_Port.
E_Ports enable you to expand the fabric by connecting SANbox 5200 switches
with other FC-SW-2 compliant switches. SANbox 5200 switches self-discover all
inter-switch connections. Refer to ”Multiple Chassis Fabrics” on page 3-7 for more
information about multiple chassis fabrics. Refer to the SANbox 5200 Switch
Management User’s Guide for information about defining port types.