Glossary-8
Installation and Reference Guide
Private Device
A device that supports arbitrated loop protocol and can interpret 8-bit addresses,
but cannot log into the fabric.
Private Loop
An arbitrated loop that does not include a participating FL_Port.
Protocol
A defined method and a set of standards for communication.
Public
NL_Port
An NL_Port that logs into the fabric, can function within either a public or a
private loop, and can communicate with either private or public NL_Ports.
Public Device
A device that supports arbitrated loop protocol, can interpret 8-bit addresses, and
can log into the fabric.
Public Loop
An arbitrated loop that includes a participating FL_Port, and may contain both
public and private NL_Ports.
QuickLoop
A software product that makes it possible to allow private devices within loops to
communicate with public and private devices across the fabric through the
creation of a larger loop.
May also refer to the arbitrated loop created using this software. A QuickLoop
can contain a number of devices or looplets; all devices in the same QuickLoop
share a single AL_PA space.
R_A_TOV
Resource Allocation Time-out Value; the maximum time a frame can be delayed
in the fabric and still be delivered. See also E_D_TOV, RR_TOV.
RAID
Redundant Array of Independent Disks; a collection of disk drives that appear as
a single volume to the server and are fault tolerant through mirroring or parity
checking. See also JBOD.
Remote Switch
A software product that runs on Fabric OS and enables two switches to be
connected over an ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) connection. This requires a
compatible Fibre Channel to ATM gateway, and can have a distance of up to 10
kilometers between each switch and the respective ATM gateway. See also
Distributed Fabrics.
Request Rate
The rate at which requests arrive at a servicing entity. See also Service Rate.
Route
As applies to a fabric, the communication path between two switches. May also
apply to the specific path taken by an individual frame, from source to
destination. See also FSPF.
Routing
The assignment of frames to specific switch ports, according to frame destination.
RR_TOV
Resource Recovery Time-out Value; the minimum time a target device in a loop
waits after a LIP before logging out a SCSI initiator. See also E_D_TOV,
R_A_TOV.
RSCN
Registered State Change Notification; a switch function that allows notification of
fabric changes to be sent from the switch to specified nodes.
SAN
Storage Area Network; a network of systems and storage devices that
communicate using Fibre Channel protocols. See also Fabric.
Sequence
A group of related frames transmitted in the same direction between two N_Ports.
Service Rate
The rate at which an entity can service requests. See also Request Rate.
SFP
Small Form Factor Pluggable; optical transceiver used to convert signals between
optical fiber cables and switches.
