HP Fabric OS v7.0.1, Administrator'S Manual

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12 Fabric OS Administrator’s Guide
53-1002446-01
Device login
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F_Port — A fabric port is assigned to fabric-capable devices, such as SAN storage devices.
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EX_Port — A type of E_Port that connects a Fibre Channel router to an edge fabric. From the
point of view of a switch in an edge fabric, an EX_Port appears as a normal E_Port. It follows
applicable Fibre Channel standards as other E_Ports. However, the router terminates EX_Ports
rather than allowing different fabrics to merge as would happen on a switch with regular
E_Ports.
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Mirror Port — A mirror port is a configured switch port that connects to a port to mirror a
specific source port and destination port traffic passing though any switch port. This is only
supported between F_Ports.
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VE_Port — A virtual E_Port is a gigabit Ethernet switch port configured for an FCIP tunnel.
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VEX_Port — A virtual EX_Port connects a Fibre Channel router to an edge fabric. From the point
of view of a switch in an edge fabric, a VEX_Port appears as a normal VE_Port. It follows the
same Fibre Channel protocol as other VE_Ports. However, the router terminates VEX_Ports
rather than allowing different fabrics to merge as would happen on a switch with regular
VE_Ports.
The Fibre Channel protocol (FCP) auto discovery process enables private storage devices that
accept the process login (PRLI) to communicate in a fabric.
If device probing is enabled, the embedded port performs a PLOGI and attempts a PRLI into the
device to retrieve information to enter into the name server. This enables private devices that do
not perform a FLOGI, but accept a PRLI, to be entered in the name server and receive full fabric
access.
A fabric-capable device registers its information with the name server during a FLOGI. These
devices typically register information with the name server before querying for a device list. The
embedded port still performs a PLOGI and attempts a PRLI with these devices.
If a port decides to end the current session, it initiates a logout. A logout concludes the session and
terminates any work in progress associated with that session.
To display the contents of a switch’s name server, use the nsShow or nsAllShow command. For
more information about these commands, refer to the
Fabric OS Command Reference .
RSCNs
An Registered State Change Notification (RSCN) is a notification frame that is sent to devices that
are zoned together and are registered to receive a State Change Notification (SCN). The RSCN is
responsible for notifying all devices of fabric changes. The following general list of actions can
cause an RSCN to be sent through your fabric:
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A new device has been added to the fabric.
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An existing device has been removed from the fabric.
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A zone has changed.
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A switch name has changed or an IP address has changed.
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Nodes leaving or joining the fabric, such as zoning, powering on or shutting down a device, or
zoning changes.
NOTE
Fabric reconfigurations with no domain change do not cause an RSCN.