IBM Flex System V7000 Expansion Enclosure 4939H29 Manuel D’Utilisation
Codes de produits
4939H29
Chapter 11. SAN Connections and Configuration
455
Draft Document for Review January 29, 2013 12:52 pm
8068ch11-SAN Config.fm
11.5 Fibre Channel Connectivity
Fibre Channel (FC) is an open, technical standard for networking which incorporates the
“channel transport” characteristics of an I/O bus, with the flexible connectivity and distance
characteristics of a traditional network. Due to its channel-like qualities, hosts and
applications see storage devices attached to the SAN as though they are locally attached
storage. With its network characteristics FC can support multiple protocols and a broad range
of devices, and it can be managed as a network.
“channel transport” characteristics of an I/O bus, with the flexible connectivity and distance
characteristics of a traditional network. Due to its channel-like qualities, hosts and
applications see storage devices attached to the SAN as though they are locally attached
storage. With its network characteristics FC can support multiple protocols and a broad range
of devices, and it can be managed as a network.
Like other networks, information is sent in structured packets or frames, and data is serialized
before transmission. But, unlike other networks, the Fibre Channel architecture includes a
significant amount of hardware processing to deliver high performance. Fibre Channel uses a
serial data transport scheme, similar to other computer networks, streaming packets, (frames)
of bits one behind the other in a single data line to achieve high data rates. Serial transfer by
its very nature does not suffer from the problem of skew, so speed and distance is not
restricted as with parallel data transfers as shown in Figure 11-17. This was a distinct
advantage over parallel SCSI data buses which, along with other SCSI bus limitations
confined the bus to limited distance or internally attached server storage.
before transmission. But, unlike other networks, the Fibre Channel architecture includes a
significant amount of hardware processing to deliver high performance. Fibre Channel uses a
serial data transport scheme, similar to other computer networks, streaming packets, (frames)
of bits one behind the other in a single data line to achieve high data rates. Serial transfer by
its very nature does not suffer from the problem of skew, so speed and distance is not
restricted as with parallel data transfers as shown in Figure 11-17. This was a distinct
advantage over parallel SCSI data buses which, along with other SCSI bus limitations
confined the bus to limited distance or internally attached server storage.
Figure 11-17 Parallel and serial data transfer types
Serial transfer enables simpler cabling and connectors, and also routing of information
through switched networks. Fibre Channel can operate over longer distances, both natively
and by implementing cascading, and longer distances with the introduction of repeaters. Just
as LANs can be interlinked in WANs by using high speed gateways, so can campus SANs be
interlinked to build enterprise wide SANs.
through switched networks. Fibre Channel can operate over longer distances, both natively
and by implementing cascading, and longer distances with the introduction of repeaters. Just
as LANs can be interlinked in WANs by using high speed gateways, so can campus SANs be
interlinked to build enterprise wide SANs.
Whatever the topology, information is sent between two nodes, which are the source
(transmitter or initiator) and destination (receiver or target). A node is a device, such as a
server (compute node), or peripheral device, such as IBM Flex System V7000 Storage Node
or tape drive. Frames of information are passed between nodes, and the structure of the
frame is defined by a protocol. Logically, a source and target node must utilize the same
protocol, but each node may support several different protocols or data types. In the IBM Flex
(transmitter or initiator) and destination (receiver or target). A node is a device, such as a
server (compute node), or peripheral device, such as IBM Flex System V7000 Storage Node
or tape drive. Frames of information are passed between nodes, and the structure of the
frame is defined by a protocol. Logically, a source and target node must utilize the same
protocol, but each node may support several different protocols or data types. In the IBM Flex