Glossary
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SAN Switch 2/16 Version 3.1.x Installation Guide
GBps
GigaBytes per second (1,062,500,000 bytes/second).
HBA
Host Bus Adapter; the interface card between a server or workstation bus and the Fibre
Channel network.
Hub
A Fibre Channel wiring concentrator that collapses a loop topology into a physical star
topology. Nodes are automatically added to the loop when active and removed when
inactive.
Idle
Continuous transmission of an ordered set over a Fibre Channel link when no data is being
transmitted, to keep the link active and maintain bit, byte, and word synchronization.
ISL
Interswitch Link; a Fibre Channel link from the E_Port of one switch to the E_Port of
another. See also E_Port, Cascade.
Isolated E_Port
An E_Port that is online but not operational due to overlapping domain IDs or nonidentical
parameters (such as E_D_TOVs).
IU
Information Unit; a set of information as defined by either upper-level process protocol
definition or upper-level protocol mapping.
L_Port
Loop Port; a node port (NL_Port) or fabric port (FL_Port) that has arbitrated loop
capabilities. An L_Port can be in one of two modes:
■
Fabric mode Connected to a port that is not loop capable, and using fabric protocol.
■
Loop mode In an arbitrated loop and using loop protocol. An L_Port in loop mode can
also be in participating mode or non-participating mode.
Latency
The period of time required to transmit a frame, from the time it is sent until it arrives.
Link Services
A protocol for link-related actions.
Link
As applies to Fibre Channel, a physical connection between two ports, consisting of both
transmit and receive fibers.
