User`s manual

Preliminary
Major Fibre Channel Port Features
SANbox-8 Fibre Channel Switch
1-4 General Description 59008-03 Rev. A Installer’s/User’s Manual
Figure 1-2 Segmented Loop Topology Example
Segmented Loop Features
• Switch management allows you to designate any or all ports on a SANbox-8
chassis as SL_Ports.
• SL_Ports connect to devices that conform to the Fibre Channel-Private Loop
SCSI Direct Attach (FC-PLDA) standard. If you place a Public Fibre
Channel device on an SL_Port it becomes a Private device and (like other
Private devices) cannot communicate off the loop.
• Each SL_Port can support up to 126 devices.
• Each SL_Port automatically discovers the devices connected to it.
• Switch management allows you to link up to 32 segments (SL_Ports)
together in the same segmented loop zone (even across multiple chassis in
the same fabric) to form a Segmented Private Loop. The aggregate total
number of devices in the linked SL_Ports must not exceed 126 devices and
all AL_PAs within the linked segments must be unique.
• Devices in the same segmented loop zone communicate with one another as
though they were on the same physical loop.
• Devices on SL_Ports cannot communicate with devices on F, FL or
TL_Ports. They also cannot communicate with devices on SL_Ports which
are not in the same segmented loop zone.
• Devices connected to SL_Ports are not registered with the Name Server.
Private Loop
Segment
Hub
SL_Port
Private Loop
Segment
Private Loop
Segment
Hub
SL_Port
SL_Port
Hub
ST3
ST2
ST1
Switch
Server 3
Server 2