Cables; Hardware Architecture - Compaq StorageWorks 4000 - RAID Array Technology Brief

Compaq RAID Array 4000 Overview

Cables

The RA4000 uses 50-micron, multi-mode fiber optic cable, and 9-micron, single-mode fiber optic
cable. The RA4000 ships with a 2-meter multi-mode cable. The Fibre Channel Host Adapter
ships with a 5-meter multi-mode cable. Standard lengths for multi-mode cable option kits are
2 meter, 5 meter, 15 meter, 30 meter, and 50 meter. For installations requiring longer cable
lengths, single-mode cables, or additional cables, customers may contact a Compaq reseller or
special cable supplier. Refer to
more detailed information on Fibre Channel transmission, types of cable, and connection
components.
Figure 6. Fiber optic cable

Hardware Architecture

Fibre Channel is the best interconnect technology to overcome inherent I/O and physical
limitations of SCSI technology and to propel future growth of enterprise storage. For its first
scalable Fibre Channel storage solution for x86-based servers, Compaq selected FC-AL topology.
An FC-AL is a serial interface that creates logical point-to-point connections between ports.
Because it uses the minimum number of transceivers and no centralized switching function,
FC-AL provides a low-cost, yet highly flexible solution.
Each Fibre Channel node has one or more ports that enable external communication. Each port
uses two fibers to communicate with its neighboring ports on the loop, one for incoming
information and the other for outgoing information. All of the components that connect ports
comprise the interconnect topology.
ECG0205699A
www.compaq.com and www.networks.digital.com/dr/opendec
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