Port Activity Led (Green); Transceivers; Port Types; Fibre Channel Port Types - HP AK241A - StorageWorks 8Gb Simple SAN Connection Installation And Reference Manual

Port Activity LED (green)

The Activity LED indicates that data is passing through the port. Each frame that the port transmits or
receives illuminates this LED for 50 milliseconds. This makes it possible to observe the transmission of a
single frame.

Transceivers

The 8/20q Fibre Channel Switch supports SFP+ optical transceivers for the Fibre Channel ports. A
transceiver converts electrical signals to and from optical laser signals to transmit and receive data. Duplex
fiber optic cables plug into the transceivers which then connect to the devices. A port is capable of
transmitting at 8 Gb/s, 4 Gb/s, or 2 Gb/s; however, the transceiver must also be capable of delivering at
this rate.
The SFP+ transceivers are hot-pluggable. This means that you can remove or install a transceiver while the
switch is operating without harming the switch or the transceiver. However, communication with the
connected device will be interrupted. For information about installing and removing SFP+ optical
transceivers, see

Port types

The 8/20q Fibre Channel Switch supports generic ports (G_Port, GL_Port), fabric ports (F_Port, FL_Port),
expansion ports (E_Port), and transparent routing ports (TR_Port). Switches come from the factory with all
Fibre Channel ports configured as GL_Ports.
routing port functions.
Table 2

Fibre Channel port types

Port type
GL_Port
G_Port
FL_Port
F_Port
E_Port
TR_Port
"Install the transceivers" on page 35.
Description
Generic loop port—self-configures as an FL_Port when connected to a
loop device, as an F_Port when connected to a single device, or as an
E_Port when connected to another switch. If the device is a single device
on a loop, the GL_Port will attempt to configure first as an F_Port, then if
that fails, as an FL_Port.
Generic port—self-configures as an F_Port when connected to a single
device, or as an E_Port when connected to another switch.
Fabric loop port—supports a loop of up to 126 devices. An FL_Port can
also configure itself during the fabric login process as an F_Port when
connected to a single device (N_Port).
Fabric port—supports a single device.
Expansion port—expands the fabric by connecting 8/20q Fibre
Channel Switches. The 8/20q Fibre Channel Switch self-discovers all
inter-switch connections. For more information, see
fabrics" on page 21.
Transparent routing port—expands the fabric by connecting an 8/20q
Fibre Channel Switch to an HP StorageWorks B-series or C-Series remote
fabric. The TR_Port provides transparent communication between local
fabric devices and remote fabric devices while maintaining separate
fabrics. For more information, see
Table 2 describes generic, fabric, expansion, and transparent
"Multiple switch
"Transparent routing" on page 23.
8/20q Fibre Channel Switch Installation and Reference Guide 15