VeEX VePAL TX300M, User Manual

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16.0 Fiber Channel
Fibre Channel Applications
Introduction
Enterprises worldwide rely on complex IT infrastructures to store and maintain critical data and applications. Storage Area Networks
(SANs) have evolved to improve availability, resiliency, performance, modularity and geographical distribution of data storage systems
and Fiber Channel is an important technology for linking SANs together.
Fiber Channel over IP
Often, IP-centric networks are used to connect SAN islands over Local Area Networks (LAN), Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN), or
Wide Area Networks (WAN). An operational IP backbone (Layer 2 or Layer 3 topology) capable of delivering the required bandwidth
for Fiber Channel applications is an absolute prerequisite. The TX300/e equipped with Ethernet and Fiber Channel features is able to
verify FCIP connections in a variety of network configurations.
Fiber Channel over SDH/SONET
Service providers have made huge investments in SDH/SONET infrastructure over many decades, hence storage over SONET/SDH
networks are considered an essential part of any operator's SAN extension solution. DWDM networks are perfect for transporting high-
density, high-bandwidth SAN applications over short distances while SDH/SONET/OTN networks are often used for longer distance
applications. The TX300/e is equipped with a strong set of features needed to verify the strategic components and network
interconnects.
Key Test Applications
Transport layer
- Most customers or providers transporting Fibre Channel are not necessarily trained or concerned with testing the
higher protocol layers -- instead the transport groups tasked with transporting this data across a point-to-point or ring type DWDM
network are more likely to ask: Did data arrive error free or were any bit errors encountered? Was the CRC corrupted or were any
code violations experienced? Testing the transport layer is crucial and normally includes the FC-0 Layer, FC-1 Layer, and parts of the
FC-2 Layer where:
FC-0 addresses the physical layer: the optical fiber, connectors, and associated optical signal parameters.
FC-1 addresses the transmission protocol encoding/decoding, and special characters used for protocol management.
FC-2 addresses the signaling protocol layer, which comprises the framing protocol and the flow control process.
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