IBM System Storage TS3500, Introduction And Planning Manual

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Table 63. Choosing the port and topology through which your Fibre Channel connection can
be made
Drive Port Configuration
Type of Fibre Channel Port to Which the Drive Port
Connects
Server Port (HBA)
(Private - Direct Connection)
Switch Port
(Public - Switched Fabric)
Point-to-Point
Topology
(N_Port)
Arbitrated Loop Topology
(FC-AL)
Fabric
Topology
(F_Port) (L-Port) (FL_Port)
Drive port configured to
operate as L_Port
1
Invalid
system
configuration
L_Port L_Port
Invalid
system
configuration
Drive port configured to
operate as N_Port
2
N_Port (not
supported)
Invalid
system
configuration
N_Port
(switched
fabric)
N_Port
Drive port configured to
operate as LN_Port
2
N_Port (not
supported;
will force
L_Port
attempt)
L_Port L_Port N_Port
Drive port configured to
operate as NL_Port
2
N_Port (not
supported;
will force
L_Port
attempt)
L_Port N_Port N_Port
Notes:
1. Applies to Ultrium 1, 2, 3, 4 or 3592 tape drives.
2. Applies to Ultrium 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 3592 tape drives.
Two-node switched fabric topology
Two or more Fibre Channel end points can interconnect through a device called a
switch. The Fibre Channel architecture supports up to 256 ports through each
switch.
A switched fabric allows all of its ports to simultaneously use the Fibre Channel's
full architectural bandwidth. To determine the switches to which you can directly
attach the TS3500 Tape Library, visit the Web at:
http://www.ibm.com/servers/storage/support/san/index.html
Switches include a function called zoning. This function allows you to partition the
switch's ports and share access to a drive. For more information about sharing
access, see “Sharing drives on a Storage Area Network” on page 209).
The two-node switched fabric topology supports two protocols:
v
Use the two-node switched fabric loop protocol when attaching the library to an
FL_port. This protocol is supported when you attach the library through the
Ultrium or 3592 tape drives.
v Use the two-node switched fabric protocol when attaching the library to an
F_port. This protocol is supported when you attach the library through 3592
tape drives or Ultrium 2 and newer tape drives.
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IBM System Storage TS3500 Tape Library with ALMS: Introduction and Planning Guide
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