Gigabit Interface Converters - Compaq StorageWorks 4000 - RAID Array Technology Brief

Compaq RAID Array 4000 Overview

Gigabit Interface Converters

GBICs are available in two varieties:
Shortwave (GBIC-SW) for connections up to 500 meters.
Longwave (GBIC-LW) for connections between 500 meters and 10 kilometers.
These industry-standard connection devices hot plug into the storage hubs and controllers. GBICs
convert serial electrical signals into optical signals for transmission across the Fibre Channel
media. GBICs also convert optical signals received from the Fibre Channel media into electrical
signals.
A GBIC-SW provides:
A transmission rate of 100 MB/s in each direction.
A transmission distance of up to 200 meters between components using 62.5 micron,
multi-mode fiber optic cable.
A transmission distance of up to 500 meters between components using 50-micron,
multi-mode fiber optic cables.
A GBIC-LW provides:
A transmission rate of 100 MB/s in each direction.
A transmission distance of up to 10 kilometers between components using 9-micron,
single-mode fiber optic cables.
Figure 5. Gigabit interface converter
A GBIC is required for each connection in an RA4000. GBIC-SWs are provided with RA4000s
and Fibre Channel Host Adapters. GBIC-LWs and single-mode fiber optic cables, as well as
additional GBIC-SWs and multi-mode cables, can be purchased separately.
For trouble-free operation, keep Fibre Channel connectors and GBICs clean. To protect them
from contamination, GBICs and fiber cables are shipped with dust caps installed. Remove dust
caps only to make an optical connection. Reinstall the dust caps whenever the cables or GBICs
are disconnected.
Compaq products ship with instructions for making clean connections. Cleaning should be
performed any time that an open connection might have been exposed to dust or that there is
doubt about the connector's cleanliness. A cleaning kit is available from Compaq for this
purpose.
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