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3.2.1 Connecting a Fibre Channel Array
The Diamond-VT supports up to two Fibre Channel Host Interface Cards (HIC). Physical connections
and CLI commands contribute to the Fibre Channel topology.
The Diamond-VT may have
two Fibre Channel Host
Interface Cards (HIC). Each
HIC is connected by a Fibre
2 Gb HIC uses
Channel cable via an SFP
2 SFPs to connect up
to 2 FC cables
(small form factor
pluggable) module into a
point-to-point or loop Fibre Channel topology.
1
Install the SFP according to the manufacturer's
instructions.
2
Insert the SFP into the Fibre Channel Host
Interface Card in the back of the Diamond-VT.
3
Insert the correct cable.
The cable you use depends upon your application,
the environment and the distance required for
your storage area network.
To comply with FCC and CE EMI for the 2-
gigabit Host Interface Card, use fiber optic cables.
Exhibit 3.2.1-1 Fibre Channel cable options
Cable length
Cable type
<10 meters
>10 <30 meters
Equalized copper
Up to 175
multi mode fiber
meters
Up to 500
multi mode fiber
meters
Up to 10
single mode fiber
kilometers
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
11
ATTO Technology Inc. Diamond Storage Array Installation and Operation Manual
Cable
size
Unequalized
copper
62.5
optic
micron
50 micron
optic
9 micron
optic
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
Diamond-VT units to be daisy-chained together.
See Exhibit 3.2.1-2.
Autoconfiguration
The Diamond-VT automatically determines if the
Array HICs 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
page of the ExpressNAV interface. The
Status
return displays the data rate and connection mode
for each HIC (FC 0 and FC 1).
Manual configuration
You may manually configure the Diamond-VT
using CLI commands (see
on page 27.) or access the Fibre
based Commands
Channel page of the ExpressNAV interface.
The
CLI command specifies the
FCConnMode
Fibre Channel topology for both HICs on a
Diamond-VT. 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 Diamond-VT 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.
or go to the
Info
CLI: Interface via ASCII-
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