HP Surestore 6164 - Switch User manual

user’s guide
version 2.3
QuickLoop
www.hp.com

Notice
© Hewlett-Packard Company, 2001. All rights reserved.
Edition: E0801
Hewlett-Packard Company makes no warranty of any
kind with regard to this material, including, but not
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Warranty
If you have any questions about the warranty for this
product, contact your dealer or local Hewlett-Packard
sales representative.
Trademarks
Brocade, SilkWorm, Brocade Extended Fabrics, Brocade
Fabric Manager, Brocade Fabric OS, Brocade Fabric
Watch, Brocade QuickLoop, Brocade Remote Switch,
Brocade Web Tools, and Brocade Zoning are trademarks
or registered trademarks of Brocade Communications
Systems, Inc. in the United States and/or in other
countries.
All other brands, product or service names are or may be
trademarks or service marks of, and are used to identify
products of services of their respective owners.
Brocade Extended Fabrics, Brocade Fabric Manager,
Brocade Fabric OS, Brocade Fabric Watch, Brocade
QuickLoop, Brocade Remote Switch, Brocade Web Tools,
and Brocade Zoning are hereafter referred to as Extended
Fabrics, Fabric Manager, Fabric OS, Fabric Watch,
QuickLoop, Remote Switch, Web Tools, and Zoning
respectively.
Safety notices
Any servicing, adjustment, maintenance, or repair must be
performed only by authorized service-trained personnel.
Format conventions
variable Indicates that you must supply a value.
output Denotes text displayed on the screen.
[ ] Indicates that the enclosed element is
optional and may be left out.
{ } Indicates that you must specify one of the
listed options.
| Separates alternatives.
. . . Indicates a repetition of the preceding
parameter.
Tip Denotes ideas for enhanced product usage.
Note Denotes significant concepts or operating
instructions.
CAUTION Denotes a hazard that can cause hardware or
software damage.
WARNING Denotes a hazard that can cause personal
injury or death.
2

3
Revision History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
About This Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Related Publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Getting Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Getting Software Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1Introducing QuickLoop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
QuickLoop Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Address Translation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Combining QuickLoop and Zoning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2Using QuickLoop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Administering QuickLoop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Web Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Telnet Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
QuickLoop Topology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
QuickLoop Implementation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Dual-switch QuickLoop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
QuickLoop Initialization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
CONTENTS

4QuickLoop User’s Guide
Sample Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Configuration 1: Emulating a Hub . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Configuration 2: Dual-switch QuickLoop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Configuration 3: Long-wave Laser Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Sample Telnet Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Configuration 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Configuration 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Configuration 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Error Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Switch Level Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Port Level Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
AQuickLoop Telnet Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Telnet Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
qlDisable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
qlEnable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
qlPartner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
qlPortDisable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
qlPortEnable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
qlShow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
qlStatsShow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
qlPortShowAll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

5
Revision History
July 2001 First release.

6QuickLoop User’s Guide

7
PREFACE
QuickLoop and Zoning are supported with Fabric OS version a2.4.1 or
later.
About This Guide
This guide provides the following information:
Chapter 1
Introducing QuickLoop Provides an overview of QuickLoop.
Chapter 2
Using QuickLoop Provides information about configuring and using QuickLoop.
Appendix A
QuickLoop Telnet
Commands
Provides the command summaries for
configuring and using QuickLoop.

8 QuickLoop User’s Guide
Related Publications
Related product information can be found in the following publications.
Those publications with part numbers are provided as printed copies with
your product. The HP Surestore FC Switch 6164 Documentation CD
contains all publications listed in the table below and is also provided with
your product.
For information about Fibre Channel standards, visit the Fibre Channel
Association web site, located at
http://www.fibrechannel.com.
Getting Help
For support information, visit the HP web site located at:
http://www.hp.com
Title Part Number
HP Surestore FC Switch 6164 Documentation
CD A7326-11011
HP Surestore FC Switch 6164 Installation and
Reference Guide A7326-90902
HP Surestore FC Switch 6164 Quick Start Guide A7326-90901
Distributed Fabrics User’s Guide, version 2.2 Available only on CD
Fabric OS Reference Manual, version 2.4 Available only on CD
Fabric Watch User’s Guide, version 2.2 Available only on CD
MIB Reference Manual, version 2.3 Available only on CD
Web Tools User’s Guide, version 2.3 Available only on CD
Zoning User’s Guide, version 2.2 Available only on CD

Preface 9
Getting Software Updates
Firmware and software updates are found on the HP web site at:
http://www.hp.com
New switch firmware can be installed from the following host operating
systems:
• UNIX
• Windows NT
• Windows 2000
• Windows 98
• Windows 95

10 QuickLoop User’s Guide

11
1
INTRODUCING QUICKLOOP
QuickLoop allows arbitrated loops to be attached to a fabric. Without
modifying their drivers, private storage devices on the arbitrated loops can
be accessed by public or private hosts elsewhere on the fabric. Zoning
enables the set of storage devices visible to specific hosts to 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. QuickLoop runs on switches with Fabric OS
version a2.4.1 or later and allows a switch to emulate a hub environment,
while offering the additional benefit of connectivity to a fabric. 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.
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 space 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.

12 QuickLoop User’s Guide
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.
QuickLoop provides a possible migration path starting with deploying a
singleprivate 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.
•QuickLoop mode - Allows private hosts to communicate with private
target devices across the fabric, provided they are configured in the
same QuickLoop.
In mixed mode individual ports within a switch are set by configuration
commands to one of the above three modes.The switch automatically
determines and sets the appropriate mode, based on factory defaults and
configurations currently in effect.
Combining QuickLoop and Zoning
You can use QuickLoop in conjunction with Zoning. In addition to zoning
fabrics, Zoning 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.

Introducing QuickLoop 13
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 only see targets contained within a QuickLoop. Zoning
allows devices from multiple QuickLoops to beadded to the definition for a
fabric zone. Even an identical AL_PA from two different QuickLoops can
be configured under a fabric zone. Zoning can correctly direct traffic to the
different devices and provide additional control over access to QuickLoop
devises. Fabric devices in a zoned fabric can only access QuickLoop (and
fabric) devices that are in the same zone. Zones can be created within
QuickLoops and can also 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 in conjunction with QuickLoop,
see the Zoning User’s Guide, version 2.2.

14 QuickLoop User’s Guide

15
2
USING QUICKLOOP
You can enable or disable QuickLoop for either the entire switch or for
particular ports. When QuickLoop is enabled on a port, the port is added to
the same QuickLoop to which the switch belongs.
A QuickLoop can be either “single-switch,”where all looplets are located
on a single-switch, or “dual-switch,”where looplets are located on either of
two cascaded switches. However, each switch can be in only one
QuickLoop. A QuickLoop can include all or some of the ports on a switch
or cascaded switch pair, and can contain up to 29 private hosts.
Any particular switch can be configured to operate in the following modes:
•QuickLoop mode
All ports on the switch, except for E_Ports, are enabled for QuickLoop
and participate in a logical Private Loop Direct Attach (PLDA). Upon
request, this mode can be set as the manufacturing default. This mode
can also be set by the Telnet command qlEnable.
•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.

16 QuickLoop User’s Guide
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).
A switch has a default mode, which depends on the switch model. When
powered up, all the ports of the switch are set to the default mode.
Administering QuickLoop
You can manage quickloops through Web Tools (an optionally licensed
product), or through Telnet commands.
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. See Figure 1.
Figure 1. QuickLoop Admin Tab in Web Tools

Using QuickLoop 17
To configure QuickLoop in Web Tools, click Zone Admin in Fabric View
as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2. Zone Administration View
Zone Admin

18 QuickLoop User’s Guide
To view and modify QuickLoop use the QuickLoop tab in Zone
Administration view. See Figure 3.
Telnet Commands
The Telnet commands for QuickLoop are available through the shell admin
account. 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 Telnet commands provided for managing
QuickLoop, see Appendix A, “QuickLoop Telnet Commands”.
Figure 3. QuickLoop Tab in Zone Administration View

Using QuickLoop 19
QuickLoop Topology
QuickLoop topologies have the following characteristics:
•A QuickLoop can include up to 2 switches and can support up to
126 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 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. (The fabric login, or
“FLOGI,”is rejected.)
•Legacy devices can be used in a QuickLoop and can 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.
•Each looplet in a QuickLoop has its own unshared bandwidth and can
support transfer rates up to 100 MB/per second.
•Multiple devices can communicate simultaneously and at full
bandwidth within multiple looplets located in the same QuickLoop.
•If a looplet error is detected, QuickLoop automatically takes the looplet
out of service. If the error condition is cleared, the looplet is
automatically re-instated.

20 QuickLoop User’s Guide
QuickLoop Implementation
QuickLoop is implemented by a combination of hardware and software
components, and requires no actions on the part of the user after 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 with switches.
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 physical ports on varying model 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 loop capable. 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 loop capable. Used to connect loop
capable NL_Ports to the switch in a loop configuration.