Using the FC-FC Routing Service
In this chapter
Fibre Channel Routing overview
Fibre Channel Routing (FCR) provides connectivity to devices in different fabrics without merging
the fabrics.
For example, Fibre Channel Routing allows you to share tape drives across multiple fabrics without
the administrative problems, such as change management, network management, scalability,
reliability, availability, and serviceability that might result from merging the fabrics.
Fibre Channel Routing lets you create logical storage area networks (LSANs) that can span fabrics.
These LSANs allow Fibre Channel zones to cross physical SAN boundaries without merging the
fabrics while maintaining the access controls of zones.
Note the following terminology for Fibre Channel Routing:
backbone fabric
edge fabric
EX-Port
FC Router
interfabric link (IFL)
metaSAN
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Viewing EX-Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
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Viewing LSAN zones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
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An FC Router can connect two edge fabrics; a backbone fabric connects FC
Routers. The FC Router fabric is the backbone fabric. A backbone fabric
consists of at least one FC Router and possibly a number of Fabric OS-based
Fibre Channel switches. Initiators and targets in the edge fabric can
communicate with devices in the backbone fabric through the FC Router.
A standard Fibre Channel fabric with targets and initiators connected through
an FC Router to another Fibre Channel fabric.
A type of port that functions somewhat like an E_Port, but does not propagate
fabric services or routing topology information from one fabric to another.
A switch running FC-FC Routing Service.
The link between an E_Port and an EX-Port, or a VE_Port and a VEX-Port.
The collection of all SANs interconnected with FC Routers.
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