Tandberg Data FC420 Bridge Option User’s Guide
Document T6423053-01, Ver. 1, Rel. 0
November 2002
Introduction
3
Introduction
0
This document describes the configuration and operation of the FC420
Fibre Channel Bridge option installed in the M2500 library.
For FC420 installation steps, refer to the
FC420 Fibre Channel Bridge
Quick Reference Guide
(PN T6473054).
For a description of M-Series library operating procedures, see the
Tandberg Data M-Series Library User’s Guide
(PN T6423045).
Fibre Channel
Overview
0
The M2500 library is controlled by a host computer via a SCSI
differential bus using the SCSI-2 medium changer command set. The
library’s architecture allows for easy conversion from the SCSI host
interface to a Fibre Channel host interface by installing the FC420
Bridge option.
Fibre Channel is a serial data transfer architecture for use with
computers and mass storage devices. Fibre Channel is rapidly
emerging to challenge SCSI as the interface of choice for host-to-
storage applications.
Fibre Channel advantages include:
• Connection distances of up to 500 meters
• Up to 2 GB/sec data transfer rates with Autonegotiate
• Support for up to 126 devices on a loop
• Support for 24-bit addressing for over 16 million devices in
point-to-point mode or fabric, when using a Fibre Channel switch
or multiple Fibre Channel switches.
• Operating system independence
• Interconnect flexibility
• Fibre Channel fabric switches provide full direct connectivity
between all ports on a network, which can increase the total
throughput of all devices on a network.
Library Operation
After FC420 Bridge
Installation
0
Once the FC420 Bridge SCSI to Fibre Channel option is installed and
tested, the library operates exactly as a library with a SCSI host
interface. User operation of the library via the graphical user interface
(GUI) panel is unchanged.