HP Surestore 64 - Director Switch Technical manual

hp surestore director fc-64
Planning Guide

hp surestore director fc-64
Planning Guide
Edition E0102
Order No. A6534-90903
Printed in U.S.A.


ii
Notice
© Hewlett-Packard Company, 2002. All rights
reserved.
Hewlett-Packard Company makes no warranty of
any kind with regard to this material, including, but
not limited to, the implied warranties of
merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
Hewlett-Packard shall not be liable for errors
contained herein or for incidental or consequential
damages in connection with the furnishing,
performance, or use of this material.
This document contains proprietary information,
which is protected by copyright. No part of this
documentmay be photocopied, reproduced, or
translated into another language without the prior
written consent of Hewlett-Packard. The
information contained in this document is subject to
change without notice.
Your Hewlett-Packard Director Class Switch is a
highly versatile product capable of operating in a
multitude of configurations. Hewlett-Packard
designs and tests these configurations to optimize
product performance. As such, your particular
installation may, or may not utilize all the features
presented in this document. Always consult your
Hewlett-Packard representative for the latest
configuration information.
Warranty
If you have any questions about the warranty for
this product, contact your dealer or local Hewlett-
Packard sales representative.
Safety Instructions
Grounding
This product is a safety class I product and has a
protective earthing terminal. There must be an
uninterruptible safety earth ground from the main
power source to the product’s input wiring
terminals, power cord, or supplied power cord set.
Whenever it is likely that the protection has been
impaired, disconnect the power cord until the
ground has been restored.
Service
Any servicing, adjustment, maintenance, or repair
mustbe performed only by authorized service-
trained personnel.
Format Conventions
Denotes
WARNING A hazard that can cause
personal injury
Caution A hazard that can cause hardware
orsoftware damage
Note Significant concepts or operating
instructions
this font Text to be typed verbatim: all
commands, path names, file
names, and directory names
this font Text displayed on the screen
<this font> Keys to be pressed, for example,
the <Return> key

iii
CONTENTS
Contents
1 Introduction
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Director Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Director Performance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Director Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Director Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
High-Availability Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Connectivity Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Security Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Serviceability Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
2 Director Hardware Description
Director Description. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Front Bezel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
CTP Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
FPM Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Power Supply. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
RFI Shield. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Power Module Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Fan Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
SBAR Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Backplane. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Director Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Physical Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

iv
Storage and Shipping Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Operating Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Equipment Rack Service Clearances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
HP EFC Server Description. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
HP EFC Server Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Ethernet Hub . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Remote User Workstations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Embedded Web Server Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
3 Director Software Description
Director Firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Backup and Restore Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Software Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
HP EFC Management Services Application. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
User Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
4 Planning Considerations
Planning a Fibre Channel SAN Configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Reasons for Implementing SAN Technology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Integrating SAN Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Fibre Channel Topologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Capacity Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Port Connectivity and Fiber-Optic Cabling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Port Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Extended-Distance Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
High-Availability Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Cabling and Connectors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Routing Fiber-Optic Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

v
Contents
HP EFC Server, LAN, and Remote Access Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
HP EFC Server. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Remote User Workstations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
SNMP Management Workstations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
Web Browser Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
Security Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
Name Server Zoning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
Multiswitch Fabric Support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
Fabric Topology Limits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
Factors to Consider When Implementing a Fabric Topology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
Obtaining Professional Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83
5 Configuration Planning Tasks
Task 1: Prepare a Site Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
Task 2: Plan Fiber-Optic Cable Routing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
Task 3: Consider Interoperability with Fabric Elements and End Devices. . . . . . .90
Task 4: Plan Console Management Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
Task 5: Plan Ethernet Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
Task 6: Plan Network Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
Task 7: Plan SNMP Support (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
Task 8: Plan E-Mail Notification (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
Task 9: Establish Director and HP EFC Server Security Measures . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
Task 10: Plan Phone Connections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98
Task 11: Diagram the Planned Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99
Task 12: Assign Port Names and Nicknames . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
Rules for Port Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
Rules for Nicknames. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101
Task 13: Complete the Planning Worksheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102
Task 14: Plan AC Power. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106

vi
Task 15: Plan a Multiswitch Fabric (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Task 16: Plan Zone Sets for Multiple Directors (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Task 17: Complete Planning Checklists. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Regulatory Statements
FCC EMC Statement (USA). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
EMC Statement (Canada) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
EMC Statement (European Union) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Spécification ATI Classe A (France) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
VCCI EMC Statement (Japan) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Harmonics Conformance (Japan). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
BSMI EMC Statement (Taiwan) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
RRL EMC Statement (Korea) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Germany Noise Declaration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Laser Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Declaration of Conformity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Glossary
A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127
B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128
C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129
D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131
E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133
F. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136
H . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136
I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
J. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

vii
Contents
L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139
M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140
N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141
O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142
P. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .143
R. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145
S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146
T. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147
U . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .148
V. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .148
W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .149
Z. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .149
Index

viii

ix
FIGURES
Figures
1 Rack-Mount Directors and HP EFC Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
2 Out-of-Band Director Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
3 Director FRUs (Front Access) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
4 Director FRUs (Rear Access). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
5 FPM Card LEDs and Connectors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
6 HP EFC Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
7 HP Ethernet Hub . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
8 Product View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
9 Fabric View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
10 Session View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
11 Hardware View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
12 Topology View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
13 View Panel (Embedded Web Server Interface) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
14 SFP Transceiver and LC Duplex Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
15 FPMCard and Port Numbers (OSI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
16 Typical Network Configuration (One Ethernet Connection) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
17 Typical Network Configuration (Two Ethernet Connections) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
18 Director Zoning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
19 Example Multiswitch Fabric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74

x

xi
TABLES
Tables
1 Types of User Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
2 ISL Transfer Rate Versus Fabric Port Availability (Two-Director Fabric). . . . . . . . . . . .77
3 Physical Planning and Hardware Installation Tasks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111
4 Operational Setup Tasks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113

xii

Introduction
1
1 INTRODUCTION
Overview
Director Overview
Director Features

2Overview
Overview
This chapter introduces storage area network (SAN) and Fibre Channel technologies,
provides anoverview of the HPSurestore Director FC-64, and describes the director’s
capabilities and features. The 64-port director provides dynamic switched connections
between Fibre Channel servers and devices in a SAN environment. Switches are managed
and controlled through:
•HP Enterprise Fabric Connectivity (HP EFC) Server with the HP EFC Manager, Product
Manager, and Fabric Manager applications installed. The HP EFC Server is a notebook
personal computer (PC) that provides a central point of control for up to 48 directors.
•Remote workstation communicating with the HP EFC Server through a corporate
intranet.
•PCplatformwithan Internetconnection to the embedded Web serverinterface installed
onthe director.
Up to three directors are delivered in an HP-supplied equipment rack. The HP EFC Server
is mounted in a slide-out drawer at the center of the rack.
Multiple directors and the HPEFCServer communicate onalocalareanetwork (LAN)
through one or more 10/100 Base-T Ethernet hubs. Hubs are daisy-chained as required to
provide additional Ethernetconnections as more directors are installed on acustomer
network.
Figure 1 illustrates three rack-mount directors, the HP EFC Server, and Ethernet hub.
The director implements Fibre Channel technology that provides high-performance
scalable bandwidth (one gigabit per second), highly-available operation, redundant
switched data paths, long transmission distances (up to 20 kilometers), and high device
population.

Overview 3
Introduction
Figure 1 Rack-Mount Directors and HP EFC Server
The director supports mainframe and open-systems interconnection (OSI) computing
environments and provides data transmission and flow control between device node ports
(N_Ports) as dictated by the Fibre Channel Physical and Signaling Interface (FC-PH4.3).
The directorprovidesdynamic switched connections forservers and devices
manufactured by multiple original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). To determine if an
OEM product can communicate through connections provided by the director, or if
communication restrictions apply, refer to the supporting publications for the product or
contact your local HP sales representative.

4Director Overview
Director Overview
The HP Surestore Director FC-64 provides high-performance port connections to end
devices such as servers, mass storage devices, and other peripherals in a Fibre Channel
switched network. Up to 64 Fibre Channel connections are provided through generic ports
(G_Ports). Director software configures and supports any-to-any port connectivity.
When connected to a device, aG_Port behaves as a fabric port (F_Port). When connected
to another director (orothermanaged product) inamultiswitchfabric, aG_Portbehaves
as an expansion port (E_Port).
Each fiber port module (FPM) card provides four Fibre Channel connections through
duplex small form factor pluggable (SFP) fiber-optic transceivers. The director is
configured from a minimum of eight FPM cards (32 ports) to a maximum of 16 FPM cards
(64 ports). Shortwave laser optical transceivers are available for transferring data over
multimode fiber-optic cable. Longwave laser optical transceivers are available for
transferring data over singlemode fiber-optic cable.
Director Performance
In addition to Fibre Channel port connectivity described above, the director provides the
following performance features:
•High bandwidth
Each port provides full-duplex serial data transfer at a rate of 1.0625 gigabits per
second (Gbps).
•High-availability
The director design provides a redundant configuration of critical hardware
components with automatic failure detection and notification.

Director Overview 5
Introduction
•Low latency
The latency is less than two microseconds between transmission of a frame at a source
port to receipt of the frame at the corresponding destination port (with no port
contention).
•Local control
Actions taking place atadevice N_Port seldomaffect operation of other ports,
therefore servers need to maintain little or no information about other connected
devices in a SAN.
•Low communication overhead
Fibre Channelprotocol provides efficient use of transmission bandwidth, reduces
interlocked handshakes across the communication interface, and efficiently
implements low-level error recovery mechanisms. This results in little communication
overhead inthe protocoland adirectorbiterrorrate (BER) notexceeding one biterror
per trillion (1012) bits.
•Multiple topology support
The director supports both point-to-point and multiswitch fabric topologies, and
indirectly supports arbitrated loop topology.
–Point-to-point topology provides a single direct connection between two device
N_Ports. This topology supports bidirectional transmission between source and
destination ports. Through dynamic switching, the director configures different
point-to-point transmission paths. In all cases, connected N_Ports use 100%of the
available bandwidth.
–A multiswitch fabric topology provides the ability to connect directors (and other
switch elements) through E_Ports and interswitch links (ISLs) to form a Fibre
Channel fabric. Director elements receive data from a device and, based on the
destination N_Port address, route the data through the fabric (and possibly through
multiple switch elements) to the destination device.

6Director Overview
–An arbitrated loop topology connects multiple device node loop ports (NL_Ports) in
a loop (or hub) configuration without benefit of a multiswitch fabric. Although the
director does not support direct connection of arbitrated loop devices, such devices
can communicate with the director through heterogeneous Fibre Channel devices.
Contact your local HP sales office for supported devices.
•Multiple service class support
The Fibre Channel signaling protocol provides several classes of transmission service
that supportframing protocol and flow control between ports. The director supports
Class 2, Class 3, and Class F services. The HP-UX operating system does not support
multicast or broadcast modes.
–Class 2 transmission service provides connectionless multiplexed frame delivery
service with acknowledgment. This service duplicates the functions of a packet-
switching network, and allows multiple nodes to share links by multiplexing the
transmitted data. Multiplexing is supported from a source to multiple destinations,
or from a destination to multiple sources. Data is adaptively transferred frame-by-
frame between pairs of N_Ports through an undedicated path. In the absence of link
errors, frame delivery is guaranteed with confirmation of receipt. Class 2 Service is
best suited for mainstream computing applications.
–Class 3 transmission service provides connectionless, best-effort multiplexed
datagram frame delivery with no acknowledgment. This class of service is the same
as Class 2 service; however confirmation of receipt is not given. The service allows
data transmission with great flexibility and efficiency. However, data frames may be
discarded without notification if high-traffic or error conditions are encountered. If
a data frame is discarded or corrupted, error recovery or notification (if any) is
performed at the upper level protocol (ULP) level. Class 3 service is bestsuited for
mass storage or video applications.
–Class Ftransmission service is connectionless service similarto Class 2service. This
service multiplexes control frames at frame boundaries and is used by multiple
directors to communicate across interswitch links (ISLs) to configure, control, and
coordinate the behavior of a multiswitch fabric.