Configuring An Extended Fabric Connection - HP StorageWorks MSA 2/8 - SAN Switch User Manual

Configuring an Extended
Fabric Connection
The Extended Fabric feature achieves long distance connections by allocating
more frame buffers for Fibre Channel traffic. Long distance connections require
more frame buffers than regular ISL connections. The greater the distance level of
a ISL long distance connection, the more frame buffers are required. This affects
the amount of buffers left over in the quad. A quad is defined as a group of four
adjacent ports that share a common pool of frame buffers. In an HP StorageWorks
SAN Switch (or port card in the Core Switch 2/64), ports 0 through 3 belong to a
single quad, ports 4 through 7 belong to a single quad, and so on.
Since the total number of frame buffers is limited in a quad when one port in a
quad is configured as a long distance port, all remaining ports in the same quad
must be configured appropriately. Refer to the
page 27.
Configuring long distance connections between core switches impacts available
ISL ports because normal ISLs are required for connections from core switches to
edge switches. When configuring long distance ISLs, make sure to balance the
need between long distance ISL connections and core-to-edge ISL connections
within a switch. Configuring long distance ISLs between core and edge switches
is possible, but is not a recommended practice.
Extended Fabric Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide
3
"Long Distance Port Matrix" on
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