Cisco 9124 - MDS Fabric Switch User Manual page 59

Fibre Channel The primary protocol for building SANs to transmit data between servers, switches, and
storage devices. Unlike IP and Ethernet, Fibre Channel is designed to support the needs
of storage devices of all types. It is a high-speed, serial, bidirectional,
topology-independent protocol, and is a highly scalable interconnection between
computers, peripherals, and networks.
fill word An IDLE or ARB ordered set that is transmitted during breaks between data frames to
keep the link active.
FLOGI The process by which an N_Port determines whether a fabric is present and, if so,
exchanges service parameters with it. See also PLOGI.
FL_Port Fabric loop port. A port that is able to transmit under fabric protocol and has arbitrated
loop capabilities. Can also be used to connect an NL_Port to a switch. See also U_Port.
frame The Fibre Channel structure used to transmit data between ports. Consists of a
start-of-frame delimiter, header, optional headers, data payload, cyclic redundancy
check, and end-of-frame delimiter. There are two types of frames: link control frames
and data frames. See also packet.
FRU Field-replaceable unit. A component that can be replaced on site.
FS Fibre Channel Service. A service that is defined by FC standards and exists at a
well-known address. The Simple Name Server, for example, is an FC service.
FSP Fibre Channel Service Protocol. The common protocol for all fabric services; it is
transparent to the fabric type or topology.
FSPF Fabric shortest path first. HP routing protocol for FC switches.
Fx_Port A fabric port that can operate as an F_Port or FL_Port.
G_Port Generic port. A port that can operate as an E_Port or F_Port. A port is defined as a
G_Port when it is not yet connected or has not yet assumed a specific function in the
fabric. See also E_Port, F_Port, U_Port.
hard address The AL_PA that an NL_Port attempts to acquire during loop initialization. See also
defined zone configuration.
idle Continuous transmission of an ordered set over an FC link when no data is being
transmitted, to keep the link active and maintain bit, byte, and word synchronization.
integrated fabric The fabric created by connecting multiple HP switches with multiple ISL cables, and
configuring the switches to handle traffic as a seamless group.
ISL trunking The distribution of traffic over the combined bandwidth of multiple ISLs. A set of trunked
ISLs is called a trunking group; the ports in a trunking group are called trunking ports.
isolated E_Port An E_Port that is online but not operational due to overlapping domain IDs or
nonidentical parameters (such as E_D_TOVs). See also E_D_TOV.
K28.5 A special 10-bit character that indicates the beginning of a transmission word that
performs FC control and signaling functions. The first seven bits are the common
pattern.
kernel flash Flash (temporary) memory connected to the peripheral bus of the processor and visible
within the processor's memory space. Also called user flash.
Cisco MDS 9124e Fabric Switch for HP c-Class BladeSystem 59