Multiple Chassis Fabrics; Optimizing Device Performance - Qlogic SANbox 5600 Series Installation Manual

3 – Planning

Multiple Chassis Fabrics

Fabric Security provides access to the following security tools (refer to
"Security" on page 3-15
SANdoctor provides access to the following tools:
Port Activation activates additional ports to 12, 16, or 20 ports.
Upgrading a switch is not disruptive, nor does it require a switch reset. To order a
license key, contact your switch distributor or your authorized reseller. Refer to
"Installing Feature License Keys" on page 4-21
license key.
Multiple Chassis Fabrics
By connecting switches together you can expand the number of available ports for
devices. Each switch in the fabric is identified by a unique domain ID, and the
fabric can automatically resolve domain ID conflicts. Because the Fibre Channel
ports are self-configuring, you can connect SANbox 5600 Series switches
together in a wide variety of topologies.
You can connect up to six SANbox 5600 Series switches together through the
XPAK ports, thus preserving the SFP ports for devices. This is called stacking.
SANbox 5600 Series switches divide the XPAK port buffer to balance traffic
across the connection. The XPAK ports operate with any standard XPAK
interface. You can also connect SANbox 5600 Series switches with other switches
through the SFP ports in a wide variety of topologies. Consider your topology and
cabling requirements.

Optimizing Device Performance

When choosing a topology for a multiple chassis fabric, you should also consider
the locality of your server and storage devices and the performance requirements
of your application. Storage applications such as video distribution, medical record
storage/retrieval or real-time data acquisition can have specific latency or
bandwidth requirements.
3-6
for more information):
Security for Ethernet connections using the Secure Socket Layer
(SSL) protocol and Telnet connections using the Secure Shell (SSH)
protocol
Device and switch authorization and authentication using the
Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP).
Remote authentication of users and devices using the Remote
Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS)
Fibre Channel connection verification (Fcping CLI command)
Fibre Channel route tracing (Fctrace CLI command)
Transceiver diagnostic information (Show Media CLI command).
for information about installing a
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