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3.2.1 Connecting a Fibre Channel Array
The Diamond Storage Array supports up to two Fibre Channel Host Interface Cards (HIC). Physical
connections and CLI commands contribute to the Fibre Channel topology.
The cable you use depends
upon your application, the
environment and the
distance required for your
storage area network.
2 Gb HIC uses
2 SFPs to connect up
To comply with FCC and
to 2 FC cables
CE EMI for the 2-gigabit
Host Interface Card, use fiber optic cables.
Exhibit 3.2-2 Fibre Channel cable options
Cable length
<10 meters
Unequalized copper
>10 <30 meters
Equalized copper
Up to 175 meters
multi mode fiber optic
Up to 500 meters
multi mode fiber optic
Up to 10 kilometers
single mode fiber optic
The Diamond Storage Array may have two Fibre
Channel Host Interface Cards (HIC). In 2 gigabit
Fibre Channel arrays, each HIC is connected by a
Fibre Channel cable via a SFP (small form factor
pluggable) module into a point-to-point or loop
Fibre Channel topology.
Install the SFP according to the manufacturer's
instructions.
Each HIC has two ports and an on-board hub.
Each port has an SFP module to connect to Fibre
Channel. Each HIC is independent of the other, so
that one may be connected into a point-to-point
topology and the other into a loop. However, if
one port in a HIC is connected into a point-to-
point topology, the other port cannot be used.
One of the advantages of using loop topology for
Fibre Channel connections is that it allows arrays
to be daisy-chained together.
11
ATTO Technology Inc. Diamond Storage Array Installation and Operation Manual
Cable type
Cable size
62.5 micron
50 micron
9 micron
Autoconfiguration
The array automatically determines which HICs
are installed and if they are in loop or point-to-
point topologies.
If you wish to see how the unit has been set up, go
to the CLI commands and type Info or go to the
Status page of the ExpressNAV interface. The
return displays the data rate and connection mode
for each HIC (FC 0 and FC 1).
Manual configuration
You may manually configure the array using CLI
commands (refer to
Command Line Interface Use and
on page 29.) or access the Fibre
Guidance
Channel page of the ExpressNAV interface
(refer to
ATTO ExpressNAV: Browser-based Interface
on page 25).
FCConnMode
•
specifies the Fibre Channel
topology for both HICs on an array. Options are
loop only (loop), point-to-point only (ptp), loop
preferred (loop-ptp) or point-to-point preferred
(ptp-loop).
Loop connects to either an FC-AL arbitrated loop or
a fabric loop port (FL_Port) on a switch.
Point-to-point (ptp) connects to a direct fabric
connection, such as an F port on a switch.
Loop-ptp allows the array to determine what kind of
connection to use, but tries to connect in loop mode
first, then point-to-point mode.
Ptp-loop allows the card to determine what kind of
connection to use, but tries to connect in point-to-
point mode first, then loop mode.
• FcDataRate specifies the Fibre Channel data
rate at which both HICs on a Diamond operate.
Choices are 1 gigabit, 2 gigabit and
autodetection.
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