HP StorageWorks 8B - FC Entry Switch User manual

user's guide
version 3.0
quickloop
www.hp.com

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© Hewlett-Packard Company, 2001. All rights reserved.
Edition: E1201
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QuickLoop User’s Guide iii
Contents
Preface
About This Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
Related Publications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
System Requirements and Compatibility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
Getting Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
Getting Software Updates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
Chapter 1 Introducing QuickLoop
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
QuickLoop Basics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Address Translation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Combining QuickLoop and Zoning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Chapter 2 Using QuickLoop
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Administering QuickLoop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Web Tools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Telnet Commands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
QuickLoop Topology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
QuickLoop Implementation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Dual-switch QuickLoop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
QuickLoop Initialization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4

iv QuickLoop User’s Guide
Sample Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Configuration 1: Emulating a Hub . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Configuration 2: Dual-switch QuickLoop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Configuration 3: Long Wave Laser Connection. . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Configuration 4: Mixed QuickLoop Mode and Fabric Mode 2-10
Error Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
Switch Level Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
Port Level Errors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
Glossary
Index

QuickLoop User’s Guide v
Preface
Zoning is a standard feature on the HP Surestore FC 1Gb/2Gb Switch 8B and FC 1Gb/2Gb Switch
16B products. It is also available on the HP Surestore FC 1Gb/2Gb Entry Switch 8B if the Zoning
license is installed. QuickLoop is a standard feature on the HP Surestore FC 1Gb/2Gb Entry Switch
8B, FC 1Gb/2Gb Switch 8B, and FC 1Gb/2Gb Switch 16B products. QuickLoop and Zoning are
supported on switches running Fabric OS version 3.0.1b or later.
About This Guide
This guide provides the following information about the QuickLoop features:
Related Publications
Related product information can be found in the following publications.
Provided with the FC Entry Switch 8B and FC Switch 8B:
•HP Surestore FC 1Gb/2Gb Entry Switch 8B and FC 1Gb/2Gb Switch 8B Getting Started
Guide (A7346-90902)
•HP Surestore FC 1Gb/2Gb Entry Switch 8B and FC 1Gb/2Gb Switch 8B Documentation
CD (A7346-11001)
Chapter 1
Introducing QuickLoop Provides an overview of QuickLoop.
Chapter 2
Using QuickLoop Provides information about configuring and using QuickLoop.

vi QuickLoop User’s Guide
Provided on the FC Entry Switch 8B and FC Switch 8B Documentation CD, and at the HP Web site
at http://www.hp.com/support/fc8B:
•HP Surestore FC 1Gb/2Gb Entry Switch 8B and FC 1Gb/2Gb Switch 8B Getting Started
Guide (A7346-90902)
•HP Surestore FC 1Gb/2Gb Entry Switch 8B and FC 1Gb/2Gb Switch 8B Installation and
Reference Guide
•Fabric OS Reference Manual, version 3.0
•Fabric OS Procedures Guide, version 3.0
•Fabric OS Version 3.0.1b Release Notes
•Fabric Watch User’s Guide, version 3.0
•QuickLoop User’s Guide, version 3.0
•Web Tools User’s Guide, version 3.0
•Distributed Fabrics User’s Guide, version 3.0
•Zoning User’s Guide, version 3.0
•MIB Reference Manual, version 3.0
•ISL Trunking User’s Guide, version 3.0
•Advanced Performance Monitoring User’s Guide, version 3.0
•Merging Heterogeneous Fabrics Instructions
Provided with the FC 16B:
•HP Surestore FC 1Gb/2Gb Switch 16B Quick Start Guide (A7340-96002)
•HP Surestore FC 1Gb/2Gb Switch 16B Documentation CD (A7340-11001)
Provided on the FC 1Gb/2Gb Switch 16B Documentation CD and at the HP Web site at
http://www.hp.com/support/fc16B:
•HP Surestore FC 1Gb/2Gb Switch 16B Quick Start Guide (A7340-96002)
•HP Surestore FC 1Gb/2Gb Switch 16B Installation and Reference Guide
•Fabric OS Reference Manual, version 3.0
•Fabric OS Procedures Guide, version 3.0
•Fabric OS Version 3.0.1 Release Notes
•Fabric Watch User’s Guide, version 3.0
•QuickLoop User’s Guide, version 3.0
•Web Tools User’s Guide, version 3.0
•Distributed Fabrics User’s Guide, version 3.0
•Zoning User’s Guide, version 3.0
•MIB Reference Manual, version 3.0
•ISL Trunking User’s Guide, version 3.0
•Advanced Performance Monitoring User’s Guide, version 3.0
•Merging Heterogeneous Fabrics Instructions
Information about Fibre Channel standards and Fibre Channel in general can be found on the Fibre
Channel Industry Association Web site, located at http://www.fibrechannel.com.

QuickLoop User’s Guide vii
System Requirements and Compatibility
Compatibility with other Products
Fabric OS version 3.0.1b or later can be installed and run on the FC Entry Switch 8B, FC Switch
8B, and FC 16B products.
The FC Entry Switch 8B, FC Switch 8B, and the FC 16B switch running Fabric OS version 3.0.1b
or later can operate in the same fabric with the HP Brocade 2400/2800 and FC 6164 switches
running the a2.4.1 or later versions of Fabric OS.
For more information about configuring FC Entry Switch 8B, FC Switch 8B, FC 16B, HP Brocade
2400/2800, and FC 6164 products to operate in the same fabric, contact your switch supplier.
Getting Help
For information for the FC Entry Switch 8B and FC Switch 8B, visit the HP Web site at
http://www.hp.com/support/fc8B.For the most current technical support information for the FC
16B, visit the HP Web site at http://www.hp.com/support/fc16B. This includes hardware and
software support, all repairs, and spare components.
Be prepared to provide the following information to the support personnel:
•Switch serial number
•Switch world wide name
•Output from the supportShow telnet command
•Detailed description of the problem
•Topology configuration
•Troubleshooting steps already performed
Getting Software Updates
For information on obtaining software updates contact your HP account representative or technical
support.

viii QuickLoop User’s Guide

QuickLoop User’s Guide 1-1
Chapter
1
Introducing QuickLoop
This chapter provides the following information:
•Overview on page 1-1
•QuickLoop Basics on page 1-1
•Address Translation on page 1-2
•Combining QuickLoop and Zoning on page 1-2
Overview
QuickLoop allows arbitrated loops to be attached to a fabric. Without modifying their drivers,
private target on the arbitrated loops can be accessed by public or private hosts elsewhere on the
fabric.
Devices attached to QuickLoop communicate with all other devices attached to the same
QuickLoop. However, private devices attached to QuickLoop communicate only with devices
within the same QuickLoop. Public devices in an arbitrated loop mode are considered private
devices when connected to QuickLoop ports.
Zoning enables the set of storage devices visible to specific hosts can be carefully administered.
The QuickLoop and Zoning combination allows a private host to fully participate in a Storage Area
Network (SAN).
QuickLoop Basics
QuickLoop is a unique Fibre Channel topology that combines arbitrated loop and fabric topologies.
An arbitrated loop supports communication between devices that are not fabric-aware. Such
devices are called private devices, and arbitrated loops are sometimes called private loops.
QuickLoop allows an FC Entry Switch 8B, FC Switch 8B, or FC 16B switch to emulate a hub
environment, while offering the additional benefit of connectivity to a fabric.
A QuickLoop consists of multiple private arbitrated looplets (a set of devices connected to a single
port) that are connected by a fabric. All devices in a QuickLoop share a single AL_PA bit-map and
behave as if they are in one loop. This allows private devices to communicate with other devices
over the fabric, provided they are in the same QuickLoop.
A particular QuickLoop can be configured to consist of selected devices or looplets connected to
the ports of one switch, or to a cascaded switch pair.

1-2 QuickLoop User’s Guide
Introducing QuickLoop
1
QuickLoop provides a possible migration path starting with deploying a single private loop and
later deploying a fabric-based SAN. In this scenario, QuickLoop-enabled switches can be used to
replace hubs when the SAN is first deployed and has only private devices attached. Then, as the
SAN grows, fabric switches can be added without any detrimental effect to the QuickLoop-enabled
switches.
Address Translation
Address translation is transparent and requires no actions on the part of the user. It is achieved
through hardware translative mode (also known as phantom mode), in which a device not
physically located in a looplet is made addressable by a unique AL_PA in that looplet.
There are two hardware translative modes available to a QuickLoop-enabled switch:
•Standard translative mode
Allows public hosts to communicate with private target devices across the fabric. Standard
translative mode is available as an integral part of Fabric OS, and does not require QuickLoop.
•QuickLoop mode
Allows private hosts to communicate with private target devices across the fabric when
configured in the same QuickLoop. Also allows private host to communicate with public target
in the same QuickLoop.
In mixed mode individual ports within a switch are set by configuration commands to one of the
above two modes.
The switch automatically determines and sets the appropriate mode, based on factory defaults and
configurations currently in effect.
Combining QuickLoop and Zoning
QuickLoop can be used in conjunction with Zoning.
In addition to zoning fabrics, QuickLoop Zoning also allows you to zone QuickLoops, enhancing
management of a Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL) in a legacy environment.
In QuickLoop Zoning, devices within a QuickLoop can be partitioned off within that QuickLoop to
form QuickLoop zones; in other words, a QuickLoop zone is a subset of QuickLoop and can
include only devices in QuickLoop.
Fabric zones and QuickLoop zones are independent of each other; both types of zones can co-exist
in the same zone configuration. Hosts in a QuickLoop can see only targets contained within a
QuickLoop.
Zoning adds the following features:
•Devices from multiple QuickLoops can be added to the definition for a fabric zone.
Even an identical AL_PA from two different QuickLoops could be configured under a fabric
zone. Zoning can correctly direct traffic to the different devices.
•Additional control over access to QuickLoop devices.
Fabric devices in a zoned fabric can only access the QuickLoop (and fabric) devices that are in
the same zone.

QuickLoop User’s Guide 1-3
Introducing QuickLoop 1
•Zones can be created within QuickLoops.
Zoning can be used to partition QuickLoops. This creates QuickLoop zones (as opposed to
fabric zones), whose members are identified by either physical port number or AL_PA.
For more information about using Zoning and QuickLoop in conjunction, see the Zoning User’s
Guide.

1-4 QuickLoop User’s Guide
Introducing QuickLoop
1

QuickLoop User’s Guide 2-1
Chapter
2
Using QuickLoop
This chapter provides the following information:
•Overview on page 2-1
•Administering QuickLoop on page 2-2
•QuickLoop Topology on page 2-2
•QuickLoop Implementation on page 2-3
•Sample Configurations on page 2-5
•Error Handling on page 2-11
Note: For information about creating zones within a QuickLoop, see the Zoning User’s Guide.
Overview
You can enable or disable QuickLoop for either the entire switch or for particular ports. When
QuickLoop is disabled on a particular port, that port returns to Fabric mode. When QuickLoop is
enabled on a port, the port is added to the same QuickLoop to which the switch belongs.
A QuickLoop is either “single switch,” where all looplets are located on a single switch, or “dual
switch,” where looplets are located on either of two partnered switches. However, any switch can
be in only one QuickLoop. A QuickLoop includes all or some of the ports on a switch or cascaded
switch pair, and can have several private hosts. Public hosts in an arbitrated loop mode are
considered private devices when connected to QuickLoop ports.
A switch can be configured to operate in any of the following modes:
•QuickLoop mode
All ports on the switch, except for E_Ports or loopback ports, are enabled for QuickLoop and
participate in a logical Private Loop Direct Attach (PLDA). This mode can also be set by the
telnet command qlEnable.
•Fabric mode
No ports are QuickLoop-enabled (none participate in any logical PLDAs), and all ports operate
as FC-FLA compliant devices. This mode can be set by the telnet command qlDisable.
•Mixed mode
Each port is set to QuickLoop on an individual basis. The port’s operating mode can be reset
during operation. Ports set to QuickLoop become looplets of the QuickLoop to which the
switch belongs. Particular ports can be taken in and out of the QuickLoop by the telnet
commands qlPortDisable and qlPortEnable.
Note: These modes cannot be configured by Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).

2-2 QuickLoop User’s Guide
Using QuickLoop
2
A switch has a default mode, which depends on the switch model. When powered up, all the ports
of the switch will be set to the default mode.
Administering QuickLoop
You can manage QuickLoops through telnet commands or through Web Tools.
Web Tools
You can view and modify the QuickLoop settings through the QuickLoop Admin tab on the Switch
Admin interface view available through Web Tools.
Telnet Commands
To use a QuickLoop telnet command, log into the relevant switch with administrative privileges,
enter the command along with any required operands, and press Enter.
For a description of all the telnet commands provided for managing QuickLoop, refer to the Fabric
OS Reference Guide.
QuickLoop Topology
QuickLoop topologies have the following characteristics:
•A QuickLoop can include up to two switches and can support up to 126 AL_PA devices.
•Each particular switch can only be included in one QuickLoop.
•A QuickLoop can include either all of, or a subset of, the ports on a particular switch.
•Multiple non-overlapping QuickLoops can exist in a fabric of multiple switches.
•Switches with QuickLoops enabled can exist in the same fabric as non-QuickLoop enabled
switches.
•A device attached to a QuickLoop can communicate with all other devices attached to the same
QuickLoop.
•A private device in a QuickLoop can only communicate with devices in the same QuickLoop.
Existing PLDA capable host drivers need no modification to perform I/O operations with
storage devices.
•Public devices that are arbitrated loop capable are treated as private devices when connected to
QuickLoop ports (their fabric login, or “FLOGI,” is not valid).
•Legacy devices may be used in a QuickLoop and may be attached to a fabric and operate as if
in a PLDA environment.
•QuickLoop functionality can be enabled or disabled for either the entire switch or for particular
ports. When QuickLoop is disabled on a particular port, that port returns to Fabric mode.

QuickLoop User’s Guide 2-3
Using QuickLoop 2
•Each looplet in a QuickLoop has its own unshared bandwidth and can support transfer rates up
to 200 MB/sec.
•Multiple devices communicate simultaneously between at least 4 separate switch ports, at full
bandwidth within multiple looplets located in the same QuickLoop. These simultaneous
conversations cannot involve overlapping looplets.
•If a looplet error is detected, QuickLoop automatically takes that looplet out of service. If the
error condition is cleared, the looplet is automatically reinstated.
QuickLoop Implementation
QuickLoop is implemented by a combination of hardware and software components, and requires
no actions on the part of the user once it is installed and configured. The hardware components are
responsible for the transport of frames among looplets and across switches, and the software
components are responsible for QuickLoop initialization and error handling.
Terminology
The terms and concepts introduced in this section are fundamental to understanding the use of
QuickLoop mode.
Switch terminology
The following two port types are on host or storage devices, not on switches.
N_port
(Node port) An equipment port that is not loop capable. Used to connect the
equipment to the fabric.
NL_port
An equipment port that is loop capable. Used to connect an equipment port to the
fabric in a loop configuration through the FL_Port on a switch.
There are 8 or 16 on varying models of switches; certain models constrain the type of port the
switch can support. Each port can be independently configured as one of various types:
F_port
A fabric port that is not in loop mode. Able to transmit under fabric protocol, and
interface over links. N_Ports on equipment connect to F_Ports on switches.
FL_port
A fabric port on a switch that is in loop mode. Used to connect loop capable NL_Ports
to the switch in a loop configuration.

2-4 QuickLoop User’s Guide
Using QuickLoop
2
E_port
Expansion port. A port is designated an E_Port when it is used as an interswitch
expansion port to connect to the E_Port of another switch, to build a larger switch
fabric, or to build a two-switch QuickLoop configuration.
Sometimes, a single fabric loop device is attached to a port. In this case, the port would function as
an FL_port. The attached device possesses either an N_port (if the device is fabric-capable) or an
NL_port, in which case the device would be connected to the fabric in a loop configuration through
an FL_Port on a switch. In this latter case a looplet is created.
looplet
A set of devices connected in a loop to a port that is itself a member of an arbitrated
loop. By contrast, a single device rather than a loop might be connected to a port.
Each device in a private loop must have a unique physical address. The devices in a QuickLoop are
assigned a unique phantom AL_PA.
AL_PA
Arbitrated loop physical address. A one byte value used to identify a device in an
arbitrated loop.
During implementation and operation of switches in a QuickLoop, messages are transmitted by
devices as they come online. These messages, called LIPs, are in addition to normal data traffic.
LIP
Loop initialization primitive.
Dual-switch QuickLoop
In a dual-switch QuickLoop, the initialization process is driven by one of the switches, called the
QuickLoop master. The role of the QuickLoop master is dynamically assigned at each instance of
QuickLoop initialization, according to the following criteria:
•If one switch receives LIPs from its looplets and the other does not, the switch that receives the
LIPs is the QuickLoop master.
•If both switches receive LIPs from their respective looplets, the switch with the lower domain
ID is the QuickLoop master.
QuickLoop Initialization
QuickLoop initialization includes two passes:
•Pass 1 Sequential looplet initialization
Allows each device in a looplet to obtain a unique AL_PA.
•Pass 2 Full QuickLoop initialization
Brings QuickLoop up to operation.
If Zoning is in use, the looplets that are initialized depend upon the zoning configuration.

QuickLoop User’s Guide 2-5
Using QuickLoop 2
Pass 1: Sequential Looplet Initialization
This pass allows each device in the QuickLoop to obtain a unique AL_PA in a single AL_PA
bit-map. Only those looplets from which LIPs were received are initialized, using the loop
initialization procedure described in the FC-AL standard. The AL_PAs of devices in looplets from
which no LIPs are received are preserved during initialization.
Pass 2: Full Initialization
This pass sets up the QuickLoop as a single logical PLDA. This is accomplished by making all
assigned AL_PAs addressable by any device in the QuickLoop, regardless of whether the
destination device and source device are in the same physical looplet. If the destination and source
devices are not in the same physical looplet, the hidden FL_Port in the source device looplet acts on
behalf of the destination device, and the fabric provides the transport service.
Sample Configurations
The following examples illustrate possible configurations of one or two switches to form a
QuickLoop. For the details of setting these sample configurations using telnet commands, refer to
Fabric OS Reference Guide.

2-6 QuickLoop User’s Guide
Using QuickLoop
2
The QuickLoop configuration examples are:
Configuration 1
A simple configuration in which a QuickLoop-enabled switch is used as a hub
emulator or concentrator.
Configuration 2
A dual-switch configuration in which two switches are cascaded by a local fiber
connection to make up a QuickLoop.
Configuration 3
A dual-switch configuration in which two switches up to 10 kilometers apart are
connected to make up a QuickLoop.
Configuration 4
A mixed-mode configuration in which only some of the ports of two cascaded
switches are enabled for QuickLoop.
In each of these examples, the dotted line represents the logical QuickLoop or the ports that form
the QuickLoop.
A QuickLoop zone is a subset of a QuickLoop. For examples that illustrate using QuickLoop
zones, see the Zoning User’s Guide

QuickLoop User’s Guide 2-7
Using QuickLoop 2
Configuration 1: Emulating a Hub
Figure 2-1 on page 2-7 shows multiple hosts and devices connected to a QuickLoop-enabled
switch. The switch serves as a concentrator, similar to a hub except the switch offers throughput
performance on each looplet of 200MB/sec.
Figure 2-1 QuickLoop-enabled Switch Used as Concentrator

2-8 QuickLoop User’s Guide
Using QuickLoop
2
Configuration 2: Dual-switch QuickLoop
Figure 2-2 on page 2-8 shows two switches cascaded by a local fiber connection between E_ports
into a single logical PLDA. The ports configured on both switches in QuickLoop share a single
AL_PA bit-map. Neither switch can participate in a different QuickLoop. The QuickLoop can be
further subdivided into one or more QuickLoop zones.
Figure 2-2 QuickLoop Configured as Dual-switch