Access Gateway Port Types; Comparing Fc Port Configurations - Brocade Communications Systems A7533A - Brocade 4Gb SAN Switch Base Administrator's Manual

Access Gateway port types

Brocade Access Gateway differs from a typical fabric switch because it connects to the fabric using
node ports (N_Ports). Typically fabric switches connect to the enterprise fabric using ISL
(InterSwitch Link) ports, such as an E_Port.
The following defines the Fibre Channel (FC) port terms used in this manual:

Comparing FC port configurations

Brocade Access Gateway multiplexes host connections to the fabric. It presents an F_Port to the
host and an N_Port to an edge fabric switch. Using N_Port ID virtualization (NPIV), Brocade Access
Gateway allows multiple FC initiators to access the SAN on the same physical port. This reduces
the hardware requirements and management overhead of hosts to the SAN connections.
A fabric switch presents F_Ports (or FL_Ports) to the host and storage devices and presents
E_Ports, TE_Ports, or EX_Ports to other switches in the fabric. A fabric switch consumes SAN
resources, such as domain IDs, and participates in fabric management and zoning distribution. A
fabric switch requires more physical ports than Brocade Access Gateway to connect the same
number of hosts.
Figure 2
switch.
FIGURE 2
Access Gateway Administrator's Guide
53-1000605-01
•
F_Port, fabric port. A switch port that connects a host, HBA, or storage device to the SAN.
•
N_Port, node port. A host, HBA, or storage device port that connects to the F_Port of the
fabric switch.
compares the types of ports used by the Access Gateway to those used by a typical fabric
Switch in AG mode
Hosts
N_Port
N_Port F_Port
Hosts
N_Port
N_Port
Port usage comparison
Access Gateway Ports
Edge Switch
F_Port
F_Port
N_Port
NPIV
enabled
Fabric Switch Ports
Switch in standard
default mode Fabric Switch
E_Port E_Port
F_Port
E_Port
F_Port
E_Port

Access Gateway port types

Fabric
Fabric
1
3