Q-Logic SANBOX2-8C Manuel D’Utilisation

2 – General Description

Fibre Channel Ports

59042-00 A

2-5

SFP transceivers plug into the ports; duplex fiber optic cables plug into the 
transceivers which then connect to the devices. A 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 transceivers are hot swappable. This means that you can remove or 
install an SFP transceiver while the switch is operating without harming the switch 
or the transceiver. However, communication with the connected device will be 
interrupted. Refer to 

 for information about 

installing and removing SFP transceivers.

All ports are self-configuring generic ports: GL_Ports or G_Ports. A GL_Port 
self-discovers in the following ways:

■

FL_Port when connected to a loop of public devices (NL_Port)

■

F_Port when connected to a single public device (N_Port). 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.

■

As an E_Port when connected to another FC-SW-2 compliant switch

A G_Port self-discovers as an F_Port when connected to a public device or an 
E_Port when connected to another switch. You can also configure a port as a 
translated loop port (TL_Port) to support private devices.

A fabric port supports either a single public device or a loop of up to 126 public 
devices. A fabric port configures itself during the fabric login process as an F_Port 
when connected to a single public device (N_Port), or an FL_Port when 
connected to a loop of public devices (NL_Port).

E_Ports enable you to expand the fabric enabling you to connect SANbox2 
switches with other FC-SW-2 compliant switches. SANbox2-8c switches 
self-discover all inter-switch connections. Refer to 

 for more information about multiple chassis fabrics.