HP 2/8q Fibre Channel, Installation Manual

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Introduction
18 HP StorageWorks 2/8q Fibre Channel Switch Installation Guide
SFP transceivers
The switch supports SFP optical transceivers for the Fibre Channel ports. A transceiver
converts electrical signals to and from optical laser signals to transmit and receive data.
Duplex fiber optic cables plug into the transceivers, which then connect to the devices. A Fibre
Channel port is capable of transmitting at 1 Gbps or 2 Gbps; however, the transceiver must be
capable of 2 Gbps for the port to deliver at that rate.
SFP transceivers are hot pluggable. This means that you can remove or install a transceiver
while the switch is operating, without harming the switch or the transceiver. However,
communication with the connected device is interrupted. See “
Install SFP transceivers ” on
page 34 for information.
Port types
The switch supports generic ports (G_Port, GL_Port) and fabric ports (F_Port, FL_Port).
Switches come from the factory with all Fibre Channel ports configured as GL_Ports.
Ports function as follows:
■
A GL_Port self-configures as an FL_Port when connected to a public loop device, and as
an F_Port when connected to a single public device.
■
A G_Port self-configures as an F_Port when connected to a single public device.
■
An FL_Port supports a loop of up to 126 public devices. An FL_Port can also configure
itself during the fabric login process as an F_Port when connected to a single public device
(N_Port).
■
An F_Port supports a single public device. If the device is a single device on a loop, the
GL_Port will attempt to configure first as an F_Port, then if that fails, as an FL_Port.