Chapter EIGHT. Introduction to Fibre Channel

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Chapter Syllabus

8.1 Fibre Channel Benefits

8.2 Fibre Channel Terminology

8.3 Fibre Channel Hardware Components

8.4 Fibre Channel Cabling and Cable Concepts

8.5 Fibre Channel Topologies

After reading this chapter, you should be able to do the following:

  • Explain the core concepts and architectural features behind Fibre Channel.

  • List and describe the benefits of Fibre Channel.

  • Define the terminology of the Fibre Channel architecture.

  • Diagram how Fibre Channel connects server components together and explain the function of each component, including host bus adapters, gigabit interface converters, gigabit link modules, array controllers, hubs, switches, tape libraries, and cables.

  • Describe each of the three main Fibre Channel topologies point to point, FC-AL, and FC-SW.

  • Describe Fibre Channel Asynchronous Transfer Mode.

  • Describe IP over Fibre Channel.

Fibre Channel is an integrated set of standards developed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Fibre Channel technology is an industry-standard interconnect serial data transfer architecture that delivers a high level of reliability, throughput, and distance flexibility for the server industry.

Fibre Channel uses fiber optics to provide an interconnection scheme among devices. It enables rapid delivery of large amounts of data by supporting high-performance protocols, such as Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) and Small Computer System Interface (SCSI).

As shown in Figure 8-1, a complete Fibre Channel solution includes hardware platforms, storage systems, operating systems, and applications.

Figure 8-1. StorageWorks Fibre Channel solution.


A Fibre Channel solution is hardware-intensive and operates among only a few devices with predefined addresses. Data communication on a Fibre Channel system occurs over a direct or switched point-to-point connection between the communicating devices. As a result, Fibre Channel systems transport data at a high speed with low overhead.

In comparison, computer networks handle a more extensive range of tasks than Fibre Channel systems because the operating system translates and converts data across several layers of the network. Because a network is software-intensive, it has a relatively high overhead.

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    HP ProLiant Servers AIS. Official Study Guide and Desk Reference
    HP ProLiant Servers AIS: Official Study Guide and Desk Reference
    ISBN: 0131467174
    EAN: 2147483647
    Year: 2004
    Pages: 278

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