IBM System Networking SAN24B-5 Switch
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Accelerating fabric deployment with diagnostic ports
ClearLink diagnostic ports (D_Ports) enable administrators to quickly identify and isolate optics and cable
problems, reducing fabric deployment and diagnostic times. Organizations can also use D_Ports to run a
variety of tests through the IBM Network Advisor or command-line interface (CLI) to test ports, small
form-factor pluggables and cables for faults, latency, and distance.
Simplifying server deployment with dynamic fabric provisioning
Dynamic fabric provisioning enables organizations to eliminate fabric reconfiguration when adding or
replacing servers through the virtualization of host worldwide names (WWNs). It also reduces or
eliminates the need to modify zoning or logical unit number masking, and also enabling preprovisioning of
virtual WWNs, helping organizations eliminate time-consuming steps when deploying new equipment or
moving devices within a switch.
Fabric operating system and management software
Fabric operating system (FOS), which is included with each SAN24B-5, contains all the functions
necessary to operate a base system. The SAN24B-5 Gen 5 Fibre Channel base systems require FOS
v7.0.1 or later to take advantage of the advanced functions delivered through Fabric Vision technology.
The ClearLink diagnostic port (D-port) supported in FOS v7.0 or later is designed to debug the
components associated with the link, such as transceivers and cables. This feature is supported only on
the 16 Gbps ports.
The Advanced Web Tools, Advanced Zoning, Full Fabric, and Enhanced Group Management are part of
the base FOS and do not require a license. When using FOS v7.2 or later you will have access to
additional base functions such as Server Application Optimization (SAO) and Adaptive Networking.
Advanced Web Tools software enables graphical user interface (GUI) based administration,
configuration, and maintenance of fabric switches and SANs.
Advanced Zoning software segments a fabric into virtual private SANs to restrict device
communication and apply certain policies only to members within the same zone.
Full Fabric software allows switches to be connected, and is required to enable E_Ports.
Enhanced Group Management enables additional device-level management functionality for IBM
b-type SAN products when added to the element management, and allows large consolidated
operations to groups of devices (such as firmware downloads and configuration uploads and
downloads).
Advanced capabilities can be enabled with the following optional license activation features:
Adaptive networking service is a set of features that provide users with tools and capabilities for
incorporating network policies to ensure optimal behavior of a large SAN. The FOS v7.0 release
supports two types of quality-of-service features with the 16 Gbps fabric backbones: ingress rate
limiting and SID/DID-based prioritization.
Advanced Performance Monitor helps identify end-to-end bandwidth used by host/target pairs and is
designed to provide for capacity planning.
Fabric Watch is designed to constantly monitor mission-critical switch operations for potential faults
and automatically alert administrators to problems before they become costly failures. Fabric Watch
includes the port fencing capability.