User's Guide

Quantum DX-Series Software Interface Guide 297

Appendix D

DFibre Channel Topology

Fibre Channel is a serial data transfer architecture for use with computers

and mass storage devices that is rapidly emerging to challenge SCSI as

the interface of choice for host-to-storage applications.

Fibre Channel advantages include:

• Connection distances up to 500 meters

• 1 or 2 Gbit/S data transfer rates depending on host HBA

• Supports up to 126 devices in loop mode

• Supports 24-bit addressing for over 16 million devices in point-to-

point mode or fabric, when using a Fibre Channel switch or multiple

Fibre Channel switches.

• Operating system independence

• Interconnect flexibility

This section also includes information on:

• Fibre Channel Topology

• Fibre Channel Addressing

Fibre Channel

Topology

Fibre Channel topologies are divided into two types (see figure 3):