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User’s Guide—Converged Network Adapters and Intelligent Ethernet Adapters
FastLinQ 3400 and 8400 Series
NL_Port
Node loop port. A port capable of
arbitrated loop functions and protocols. An
NL_Port connects through an arbitrated
loop to other NL_Port and at most a single
FL_Port. NL_Ports handle creation, detec-
tion, and flow of message units to and from
the connected systems. NL_Ports are end
ports in virtual
links through
a fabric, for example NL_Port to F_Port to
F_Port to N_Port using a single Fibre
Channel fabric switch. In the absence of a
fabric switch FL_Port, NL_Ports can
communicate with other NL_Ports in
virtual point-to-point links through a FC_AL
open loop circuit often through FC_AL
(arbitrated Loop) hub or loop switch
devices.
node loop port
See
.
node port
See
.
NPAR
NIC partitioning. The division of a single
NIC port into multiple physical functions or
partitions, each with a user-configurable
bandwidth and personality (interface type).
Personalities include
, and
.
NPIV
N_Port ID virtualization. The ability for a
single physical Fibre Channel end point
(
) to support multiple, uniquely
addressable, logical end points. With
NPIV, a host Fibre Channel Adapter is
shared in such a way that each virtual
adapter is assigned to a virtual server and
is separately identifiable within the fabric.
Connectivity and access privileges within
the fabric are controlled by identification of
each virtual adapter and, hence, the virtual
server using each virtual adapter.
NVRAM
Non-volatile random access memory. A
type of memory that retains data (configu-
ration settings) even when power is
removed. You can manually configure
NVRAM settings or restore them from a
file.
operating system
.
OS
Operating system. After being loaded by
the boot program, the program that
manages all other programs on a
computer.
path
A path to a device is a combination of a
adapter
and a target port as
distinct from internal paths in the fabric
network. A fabric network appears to the
operating system as an opaque network
between the adapter (initiator) and the
target.
