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end-to-end credit (EE_credit).

A credit scheme used

to manage end-to-end flow control during the exchange
of frames between two communicating devices. See
also

buffer-to-buffer credit

and

end-to-end flow control

end-to-end flow control.

Governs flow of class 1 and

class 2 frames between node ports (N_ports). See also

end-to-end credit

E_port.

See

expansion port

error.

As applies to Fibre Channel, a missing or

corrupted frame, timeout, loss of synchronization, or
loss of signal (link errors). See also

loop failure

error detect timeout value (E_D_TOV).

The time that

the switch waits for an expected response before
declaring an error condition. Adjustable in 1
microsecond increments from 2 - 10 seconds.

ESD.

See

electrostatic discharge

exchange.

The highest level Fibre Channel

mechanism used for communication between node
ports (N_ports). Composed of one or more related
sequences, and can work in either one or both
directions.

expansion port (E_port).

A port is designated an

expansion port (E_port) when it is used as an
inter-switch expansion port to connect to the E_port of
another switch, to build a larger switch fabric.

Extended Fabrics.

A feature that runs on Fabric

operating system (OS) and allows creation of a Fibre
Channel fabric interconnected over distances of up to
100 km (62.14 mi).

extra long wavelength (ELWL).

Laser light with a

periodic length greater than 1300 nm (for example,
1420 or 1550). ELWL lasers are used to transmit Fibre
Channel data over distances greater than 10 km. Also
known as XLWL.

fabric.

A network that uses high-speed fibre

connections to connect switches, hosts, and devices. A
fabric is an active, intelligent, nonshared interconnect
scheme for nodes.

Fabric Assist.

A feature that enables private and

public hosts to access public targets anywhere on the
fabric, provided they are in the same Fabric Assist zone.

fabric login (FLOGI).

The process by which a device

gains access to the fabric.

fabric loop port (FL_port).

A fabric port that is loop

capable. Used to connect node loop ports (NL_ports) to
the switch in a loop configuration.

fabric mode.

One of the modes for a loop port

(L_port). An L_port is in fabric mode when it is
connected to a port that is not loop capable and is using
fabric protocol. See also

loop port

and

loop mode

fabric name.

The unique identifier assigned to a fabric

and communicated during login and port discovery.

Fabric OS.

An operating system made up of two

software components: the firmware that initializes and
manages the switch hardware, and diagnostics.

fabric port (F_port).

A port that is able to transmit

under fabric protocol and interface over links. Can be
used to connect a node port (N_port) to a switch. See
also

fabric loop port

and

Fx_port

Fabric Watch.

A feature that runs on Fabric operating

system (OS) and allows monitoring and configuration of
fabric and switch elements.

FC.

See

Fibre Channel

FCA.

See

Fibre Channel arbitrated loop

FC-AL.

See

Fibre Channel arbitrated loop

FCC.

Federal Communications Commission.

FCP.

See

Fibre Channel protocol

FC-PH-1,2,3.

The Fibre Channel Physical and

Signaling Interface standards defined by the American
National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Fibre Channel (FC).

A technology for transmitting data

between computer devices at a data rate of up to 4
Gbps. It is especially suited for attaching computer
servers to shared storage devices and for
interconnecting storage controllers and drives.

Fibre Channel arbitrated loop (FC-AL).

A standard

defined on top of the FC-PH standard. It defines the
arbitration on a loop where several Fibre Channel (FC)
nodes share a common medium.

Fibre Channel protocol (FCP).

The protocol for

transmitting commands, data, and status using
fibre-channel FC-FS exchanges and information units.
Fibre Channel is a high-speed serial architecture that
allows either optical or electrical connections at data
rates from 265 Mbps up to 4-Gbps.

Fibre Channel service (FS).

A service that is defined

by Fibre Channel standards and exists at a well-known
address. For example, the Simple Name Server is a
Fibre Channel service. See also

Fibre Channel service

protocol

Fibre Channel service protocol (FSP).

The common

protocol for all fabric services, transparent to the fabric
type or topology. See also

Fibre Channel service

Fibre Channel shortest path first (FSPF).

A routing

protocol used by Fibre Channel switches.