HP StorageWorks MSA 2/8, StorageWorks ISL Trunking 3.1, StorageWorks ISL Trunking 4.1 User Manual

user guide

hp StorageWorks

ISL trunking version 3.1.x/4.1.x

Product Version: 3.1.x/4.1.x

Third Edition (June 2003)

Part Number: AA–RTSAC–TE

This user guide provides an overview of the optionally licensed ISL Trunking Fabric OS feature.
This guide also includes information about how to activate and to use the ISL Trunking feature.

© Copyright 1999-2003 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Hewlett-Packard Company makes no warranty of any kind with regard to this material, including, but not limited to,

the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Hewlett-Packard shall not be liable for
errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance,
or use of this material.

This document contains proprietary information, which is protected by copyright. No part of this document may be
photocopied, reproduced, or translated into another language without the prior written consent of Hewlett-Packard.
The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice.

BROCADE, the Brocade B weave logo, Brocade: the Intelligent Platform for Networking Storage, SilkWorm, and
SilkWorm Express, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. or its
subsidiaries in the United States and/or in other countries.

Hewlett-Packard Company shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein. The
information is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind and is subject to change without notice. The warranties
for Hewlett-Packard Company products are set forth in the express limited warranty statements for such products.
Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty.

Printed in the U.S.A.

ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide
Third Edition (June 2003)
Part Number: AA–RTSAC–TE

3ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

contents

Contents

About this Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Intended Audience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Related Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Document Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Text Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Getting Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

HP Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

HP Storage Website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

HP Authorized Reseller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

1 Introducing ISL Trunking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

How ISL Trunking Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Routing of Traffic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Trunking Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Trunking ISLs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Trunking Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

2 Activating ISL Trunking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

License Activation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Verifying Activated Licenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Activating the License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

3 Setting Up ISL Trunking in a Fabric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Designing the Fabric to Optimize Use of ISL Trunking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Evaluating Data Traffic Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Using the CLI to Gather Traffic Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Contents

4 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Using Performance Monitoring to Gather Traffic Data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Using Fabric Watch to Gather Traffic Data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

4 Managing ISL Trunking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Enabling and Disabling Trunking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Enabling and Disabling Trunking Using the CLI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Enabling and Disabling Trunking Using Web Tools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Specifying Port Speeds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Setting Port Speeds Using the CLI. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Setting Port Speeds Using Web Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Displaying Trunking Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Displaying Trunking Information Using the CLI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Displaying Trunking Information Using Web Tools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Debugging a Trunking ISL Failure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Interpreting ISL Trunking Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Warning BLOOM-TRNK_MSTR_DWN... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Warning BLOOM-TRNK_SLV_DWN... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Frequently Asked Questions About ISL Trunking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

A ISL Trunking Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

Command List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

portcfgspeed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Syntax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Availability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Description. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Operands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Example. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

See Also. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

portcfgtrunkport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Syntax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Availability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Description. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Operands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Example. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

See Also. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

switchcfgspeed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Syntax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Contents

5ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Availability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Description. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Operands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Example. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

See Also. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

switchcfgtrunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Syntax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Availability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Description. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Operands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Example. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

See Also. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

trunkdebug . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Syntax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Availability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Description. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Operands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Example. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

See Also. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

trunkshow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Syntax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Availability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Description. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Operands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Example. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

See Also. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Glossary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91

Figures

1 Distribution of traffic over an ISL Trunking group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

2 Port groupings on a SAN Switch 2/8 EL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

3 Quad and port groupings on a SAN Switch 2/16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

4 Quad and port groupings on a SAN Switch 2/32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

5 Port groupings on the port card on a Core Switch 2/64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

6 Port Setting tab. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Contents

6 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

7 Trunk Information tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Tables

1 Document Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

2 Frequently Asked Questions about ISL Trunking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

3 Fabric OS Commands Related to ISL Trunking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

7ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

about this

guide

About this Guide

About this Guide

This user guide provides information to help you:

■ Become familiar with, install, and use the ISL Trunking feature

■ Contact technical support for additional assistance

“About this Guide” topics include:

■ Overview, page 8

■ Conventions, page 9

■ Getting Help, page 11

About this Guide

8 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Overview

This section covers the following topics:

■ Intended Audience

■ Related Documentation

Intended Audience

This book is intended for use by system administrators who are experienced with
the following:

■ HP StorageWorks Fibre Channel SAN switches

■ Fabric Operating System (FOS) V3.1.x or later

Related Documentation

For a list of related documents included with this product, see the “Related
Documents” section of the Release Notes that came with your switch.

For the latest information, documentation, and firmware releases, please visit the
following StorageWorks website:

http://www.hp.com/country/us/eng /

prodserv/storage.html

For information about Fibre Channel standards, visit the Fibre Channel
Association website, located at:

http://www.fibrechannel.org.

About this Guide

ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

9

Conventions

Conventions consist of the following:

■ Document Conventions

■ Text Symbols

Document Conventions

The document conventions included in Tabl e 1 apply in most cases.

Text Symbols

The following symbols may be found in the text of this guide. They have the
following meanings.

WARNING: Text set off in this manner indicates that failure to follow

directions in the warning could result in bodily harm or death.

Caution: Text set off in this manner indicates that failure to follow directions

could result in damage to equipment or data.

Table 1: Document Conventions

Element Convention

Cross-reference links Blue text: Figure 1
Key and field names, menu items,

buttons, and dialog box titles

Bold

File names, application names, and text
emphasis

Italics

User input, command and directory
names, and system responses (output
and messages)

Monospace font
COMMAND NAMES are uppercase

monospace font unless they are

case-sensitive
Variables <monospace, italic font>
Website addresses Blue, underlined sans serif font text:

http://www.hp.com

About this Guide

10 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Note: Text set off in this manner presents commentary, sidelights, or interesting points

of information.

About this Guide

ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

11

Getting Help

If you still have a question after reading this guide, contact an HP authorized
service provider or access our website:

http://www.hp.com

.

HP Technical Support

Telephone numbers for worldwide technical support are listed on the following
HP website:

http://www .hp.com/support/

. From this website, select the country

of origin.

Note: For continuous quality improvement, calls may be recorded or monitored.

Be sure to have the following information available before calling:

■ Technical support registration number (if applicable)

■ Product serial numbers

■ Product model names and numbers

■ Applicable error messages

■ Operating system type and revision level

■ Detailed, specific questions

HP Storage Website

The HP website has the latest information on this product, as well as the latest
drivers. Access storage at:

http://www .hp.com/country/us/eng/prodserv/

storage .html

. From this website, select the appropriate product or solution.

HP Authorized Reseller

For the name of your nearest HP authorized reseller:

■ In the United States, call 1-800-345-1518.

■ In Canada, call 1-800-263-5868.

■ Elsewhere, see the HP website for locations and telephone numbers:

http://www.hp.com

.

About this Guide

12 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

13ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

1

Introducing ISL Trunking

This chapter provides the following information:

■ Overview, page 14

■ How ISL Trunking Works, page 15

Introducing ISL Trunking

14 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Overview

ISL Trunking allows the formation of trunking groups that distribute traffic across
the shared bandwidth of all the Interswitch Links (ISLs) in the trunking group.
ISL Trunking is an optionally licensed product provided on the Fabric Operating
System (FOS) on all HP StorageWorks 2 Gbps switches.

The ISL Trunking feature optimizes network performance by allowing up to four
ISL connections between two switches to merge logically into a single link. This
enables traffic to be routed through any available ISL in the group rather than be
restricted to a specific, potentially congested ISL. ISL Trunking distributes traffic
dynamically across the merged ISLs at the Fibre Channel frame level while
preserving in-order delivery of the frames.

ISL Trunking is compatible with both short wavelength (SWL) and long
wavelength (LWL) fiber optic cables and transceivers.

Introducing ISL Trunking

15ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

How ISL Trunking Works

The ISL Trunking software identifies and constructs trunking groups as soon as
the ISL Trunking license is activated. The ISLs and ports that participate in
trunking groups are referred to as trunking ISLs and trunking ports.

ISL Trunking makes it possible to accomplish the same fabric performance with
fewer ISLs, resulting in simplified fabric design and management, lowered cost of
ownership, increased fabric performance, and increased data availability.

Figure 1 illustrates how trunking can result in more throughput by avoiding

congestion. In this example, the data available for transmission is distributed over
the four ISLs with no congestion, as it is below the total 8 Gbit/sec capacity of the
combined ISLs. In a fabric that does not have trunking capability, some paths
would be congested and other paths under utilized.

Figure 1: Distribution of traffic over an ISL Trunking group

Routing of Traffic

The same routing protocol, Fabric Shortest Path First (FSPF), is used with and
without ISL Trunking. FSPF directs traffic along the shortest path between source
and destination, based on the link cost, and makes it possible to detect link
failures, determine the shortest route for traffic, update the routing table, provide
fixed routing paths within a fabric, and maintain correct ordering of frames.

Introducing ISL Trunking

16 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

ISL Trunking reduces or eliminates situations that require static traffic routes and
individual ISL management in order to achieve optimal performance. If any static
routes are specified using the urouteconfig command, the command
overrides the dynamic load sharing employed by ISL Trunking, and performance
may decrease accordingly.

ISL Trunking uses deskew values, which are a measure of the latency differences
between ISL cables in the same group, to provide in-order delivery of traffic.
Deskew values are automatically calculated at the creation of each new trunking
group.

Trunking Groups

A trunking group can contain two to four ISLs. If any eligible ISLs exist, trunking
groups automatically form when the ISL Trunking license is activated. Multiple
trunking groups can exist between the same two switches, and each switch can
support as many trunking groups as allowed by the available ports.

Trunking ISLs

The first ISL discovered in any trunking group is automatically designated as the
Trunking Master ISL. Each trunking group has one Master ISL and up to three
Subordinate ISLs. The Master ISL cannot be specified by the user.

If a Master ISL fails or is removed, there is a pause in the I/O associated with that
trunk as a new Master ISL is designated and traffic is redistributed. If data frames
were in flight during failure of the Master ISL, some frames may be lost,
depending on the Fibre Channel class; Class 2 frames are resent and Class 3
frames are dropped. The impact of any dropped frames on the I/O depends on the
host, application, storage, and host bus adapter (HBA) in use.

If a Subordinate ISL fails or is removed, the traffic is redistributed without
interruption over the remaining members in the trunking group.

The difference in cable length between the shortest ISL and the longest ISL in a
trunking group must be less than 400 meters, and less than 30 meters is
recommended.

Trunking Ports

The ports on either end of the Master ISL are called Trunking Master Ports, and
these ports work together to direct traffic over the trunked ISLs. All other ports are
called Trunking Subordinate Ports.

Introducing ISL Trunking

17ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

All trunking ports must meet the following criteria:

■ All ports in the same trunking group must reside in the same quad; quads are

groups of four adjacent ports that are marked in intervals on each switch. The
first four ports on a switch comprise the first quad, and every group of four
adjacent ports thereafter comprise another quad. Figure 1 though Figure 5
show the quads for various switch models.

■ The port speed must be set to auto-negotiate or to 2 Gbps (the default speed is

auto-negotiate).

■ If Extended Fabrics is in use, the ports must be in the “L0” mode. ISL

Trunking does not support the “LE”, “L1”, or “L2”
portcfglongdistance modes. For information about these modes and
Extended Fabrics in general, refer to the HP StorageWorks Extended Fabric
Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide.

Potential trunking groups are marked on the front of the switch, according to quad
location. Figure 2 shows which ports on a SAN Switch 2/8 EL belong to the same
quads.

Figure 2: Port groupings on a SAN Switch 2/8 EL

Figure 3 shows which ports on a SAN Switch 2/16 belong to the same quads.

Figure 3: Quad and port groupings on a SAN Switch 2/16

Ports 0-3 Ports 4-7

Ports 0-3 Ports 4-7 Ports 8-11 Ports 12-15

Introducing ISL Trunking

18 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Figure 4 shows which ports on a SAN Switch 2/32 belong to the same quads.

Figure 4: Quad and port groupings on a SAN Switch 2/32

Ports 0-3

Ports 4-7

Ports 8-11

Ports 12-15

Ports 16-19

Ports 20-23

Ports 24-27

Ports 28-31

Introducing ISL Trunking

19ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Figure 5 shows which ports on a Core Switch 2/64 port card belong to the same

quads.

Figure 5: Port groupings on the port card on a Core Switch 2/64

Ports 0-3

Ports 4-7

Ports 8-11

Ports 12-15

Introducing ISL Trunking

20 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

21ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

2

Activating ISL Trunking

This chapter provides the following information:

■ Overview, page 22

■ License Activation, page 23

Activating ISL Trunking

22 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Overview

The ISL Trunking feature is provided with the Fabric OS and can be activated by
entering a license key, available from the switch supplier. When the ISL Trunking
license is activated, trunking is automatically implemented for any eligible ISLs.

A license must be activated on each switch that will participate in trunking. For
the Core Switch 2/64, a single license key enables the feature on both logical
switches.

Activating ISL Trunking

23ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

License Activation

You can verify and activate licenses using the command line interface (CLI) or by
using the Web Tools interface.

This section provides CLI instructions only. For instructions on activating a
license through Web Tools, refer to the HP StorageWorks Web Tools Version

3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide.

Verifying Activated Licenses

You can display the current licenses using the licenseshow command. To
verify an ISL Trunking license through the CLI:

1. Open a telnet or serial connection to the switch.

2. Log into the switch as Admin. The default password is password.

3. Enter the licenseshow command.
A list of the activated licenses displays.

If the ISL Trunking license is listed, the feature is already available. If the license
is not listed, perform the procedure described in “Activating the License” on
page 23.

Activating the License

Activate licenses using the licenseadd command. To activate an ISL Trunking
license using the CLI:

1. Open a telnet or serial connection to the switch.

2. Log into the switch as Admin. The default password is password.

3. Contact the switch supplier for an ISL Trunking license key.

admin> licenseshow
1A1AaAaaaAAAA1a:
Web license
Zoning license
SES license
Trunking license
Security license
switch:admin>

Activating ISL Trunking

24 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

4. Enter the following:

licenseadd <“key”>

where “key” is the license key exactly as provided by the switch supplier.
The license key is case-sensitive.

switch:admin> licenseadd "aAaaaaAaAaAaAaA"

adding license key "aAaaaaAaAaAaAaA"
done.

switch:admin>

5. Enter the licenseshow command to verify that the license was
successfully activated.

The feature is available as soon as the license is activated.

25ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

3

Setting Up ISL Trunking in a
Fabric

This chapter provides the following information:

■ Overview, page 26

■ Designing the Fabric to Optimize Use of ISL Trunking, page 27

■ Evaluating Data Traffic Patterns, page 29

Setting Up ISL Trunking in a Fabric

26 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Overview

To utilize ISL Trunking in the fabric, the fabric must be designed to allow
trunking groups to form. To identify the most useful trunking groups, evaluate the
traffic patterns before designing/redesigning the fabric.

Note: ISL Trunking is enabled by default for each port on the switch as shipped. For

instructions on disabling and enabling Trunking capability for individual ports or all the
ports on the switch, see “Enabling and Disabling Trunking” on page 33.

Setting Up ISL Trunking in a Fabric

27ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Designing the Fabric to Optimize Use of ISL Trunking

ISL Trunking can be utilized to simplify SAN design and improve SAN
performance. When designing the SAN, consider the following recommendations
in addition to the standard guidelines for SAN design:

■ Evaluate the traffic patterns within the fabric. This allows implementation of

trunking groups that will help to optimize fabric performance. Refer to
“Evaluating Data Traffic Patterns” on page 29 for more information.

■ Place trunking-capable switches adjacent to each other. This maximizes the

number of trunking groups that can form.

■ Activate an ISL Trunking license on each switch that is expected to participate

in a trunking group.

■ The lengths of the ISLs in the group should differ by less than 30 meters

(recommended), and must differ by less than 400 meters. This is because large
differences in latency decrease the efficiency of load-sharing. If cable lengths
differ by 400 meters or more, the trunking group forms only for the ISLs that
have lengths that differ by less than 400 meters.

■ When connecting two switches with two or more ISLs, ensure that all

trunking requirements are met to allow a trunking group to form.

■ Determine the optimal number of trunking groups between each set of linked

switches, depending on traffic patterns and port availability. The goal is to
avoid traffic congestion without unnecessarily using ports that could be used
to attach other switches or devices.
Considerations:

— Each physical ISL uses two ports which could otherwise be used to attach

node devices or other switches.

— Trunking groups can be used to resolve ISL oversubscription if the total

capability of the trunking group is not exceeded.
If high data availability is the highest priority and there are enough ports

available, it is a good idea to set up redundant trunking groups with one or
two open ports in each trunk to allow for future expansion.

■ Consider how the addition of a new path will affect existing traffic patterns:

— A trunking group has the same link cost as the Master ISL of the group,

regardless of the number of ISLs in the group. This allows Subordinate
ISLs to be added or removed without causing data to be rerouted, since
the link cost remains constant.

Setting Up ISL Trunking in a Fabric

28 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

— The addition of a path that is shorter than existing paths will cause traffic

to be rerouted through that path.

— The addition of a path that is longer than existing paths may not be useful

because the traffic will choose the shorter paths first.

■ For a core/edge topology: Place trunking-capable switches at the core of the

fabric and switches that are not capable of trunking at the edge of the fabric.
This allows for the maximum amount of trunking between core switches and
preserves the investment in any switches that are not capable of trunking.

■ For trunking groups over which traffic is likely to increase as business

requirements grow, consider leaving one or two ports in the quad available for
future use as a non-disruptive addition of bandwidth to that trunk.

■ Consider creating redundant Trunking groups where additional ports are

available or paths are particularly critical. This protects against
oversubscription of an entire trunking group, multiple ISL failures, and the
rare occurrence of an ASIC failure.

■ To provide the highest level of reliability, deploy trunking groups in redundant

fabrics to further ensure ISL failures do not disrupt business operations.

Note: SWL and LWL fiber optic cables and transceivers can be used in the same

trunking group.

Setting Up ISL Trunking in a Fabric

29ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Evaluating Data Traffic Patterns

Traffic patterns can be monitored using the portperfshow command, the
Performance Monitoring feature, the Fabric Watch feature, or a combination.

Using the CLI to Gather Traffic Data

The portperfshow command can be used to record the traffic volume for each
port over time to identify the congested paths that would benefit from the
implementation of trunking groups. This command can also be used to identify
frequently dropped links, so that troubleshooting can be performed and the links
can be added back to trunking groups as necessary.

To use the portperfshow command to gather traffic data:

1. Open a serial or telnet connection to one of the central switches in the fabric.

2. Log into the switch as Admin. The default password is password.

3. Enter the following:

portperfshow <[interval]>

where <interval> is the number of seconds between each sample. If no
interval is specified, the frequency defaults to one sample every one second.

4. Record the traffic flow for each port that is participating in an ISL.

5. Repeat step 1 through step 4 for the other switches in the fabric as required,
until all ISL traffic flow is captured (in a very large fabric, it may be necessary
to identify and capture the key ISLs, only to save time).

6. Repeat step 1 through step 5 throughout the day (or entire work cycle) to
capture varying traffic patterns.

Example 1. The following output for a SAN Switch 2/8 EL with no trunking
shows under-utilized links (ports 0, 1, 2) and congested links (ports 4, 5).

switch:admin> portperfshow

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Total

----------------------------------------------------------------

0 0 0 145m 204m 202m 0 168m 719

0 0 0 145m 206m 208m 0 186m 745

switch:admin>

Setting Up ISL Trunking in a Fabric

30 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Example 2. The following example shows traffic flowing through a trunking
group of three ports, with one of the links failing after the second reading, causing
redistribution of traffic over the remaining two links in the group.

For more details about the portperfshow command, refer to the HP
StorageWorks Fabric OS Version 3.1.x/4.1.x Reference Guide.

Using Performance Monitoring to Gather Traffic Data

Performance Monitoring can be used to monitor traffic flow and to view the
impact of different fabric configurations on performance.

For instructions on using Performance Monitoring, refer to the HP StorageWorks
Advanced Performance Monitoring Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide.

Using Fabric Watch to Gather Traffic Data

Fabric Watch can be used to monitor traffic flow through specified ports on the
switch and send alerts when the traffic exceeds or drops below configurable
thresholds. This allows the administrator to monitor changes in traffic patterns and
adjust the fabric design accordingly, by adding, removing, or reconfiguring ISLs
and trunking groups.

For instructions on configuring Fabric Watch thresholds and alerts, refer to the HP
StorageWorks Fabric Watch Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide.

switch:admin> portperfshow

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Total

------------------------------------------------------------

0 0 0 0 0 145m 144m 145m 434

0 0 0 0 0 144m 143m 144m 431

0 0 0 0 0 162m 0 162m 324

0 0 0 0 0 186m 0 186m 372

0 0 0 0 0 193m 0 192m 385

0 0 0 0 0 202m 0 202m 404

0 0 0 0 0 209m 0 209m 418

switch:admin>

31ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

4

Managing ISL Trunking

This chapter provides the following information:

■ Overview, page 32

■ Enabling and Disabling Trunking, page 33

■ Specifying Port Speeds, page 36

■ Displaying Trunking Information, page 39

■ Troubleshooting, page 42

■ Frequently Asked Questions About ISL Trunking, page 45

Managing ISL Trunking

32 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Overview

ISL Trunking provides a number of management options, including enabling and
disabling trunking on entire switches or individual ports, setting port speeds for
entire switches or individual ports, displaying trunking information, and
debugging any trunking failures.

ISL Trunking can be managed using a telnet or serial command line interface,
Web Tools, or Fabric Manager. Standard Simple Network Management Protocol
(SNMP) applications can be used to view but not to write trunking information.

Managing ISL Trunking

33ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Enabling and Disabling Trunking

Trunking can be enabled and disabled for an individual port or an entire switch,
through either the command line interface (CLI) or Web Tools.

Enabling and Disabling Trunking Using the CLI

Telnet and serial sessions can be used to enable and disable trunking.
To enable or disable trunking for an individual port:

1. Open a CLI connection to the switch to be modified.

2. Log into the switch as Admin. The default password is password.

3. Enter the following:

portcfgtrunkport slotnumber/portnumber 1|0

where:

■ slotnumber is the number of the slot to which the port belongs; only

required for the Core Switch 2/64.

■ portnumber is the port number on which to enable or disable trunking.

■ 1|0 is the value to enable or disable trunking; specify 1 to enable this

port for trunking, or 0 to disable this port for trunking.

Example. To enable trunking for port 3 in slot 1:

To enable or disable trunking for all the ports on a switch:

1. Open a CLI connection to the switch to be modified.

2. Log into the switch as Admin. The default password is password.

3. Enter the following:

switchcfgtrunk <1|0>

where:
<1|0> enables or disables trunking; specify 1 to enable trunking on all ports

in the switch, or 0 to disable trunking on all ports in the switch.

Example. To enable all ports on the switch for trunking:

switch:admin> portcfgtrunkport 1/3 1

done.

switch:admin>

Managing ISL Trunking

34 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Enabling and Disabling Trunking Using Web Tools

Web Tools can be used to enable and disable trunking.
To enable or disable trunking for one or more ports through Web Tools:

1. Launch Web Tools by launching the web browser and entering the switch
name or IP address in the URL field.

2. Double-click to select the switch from the navigation tree.

3. Click the Admin icon.

4. Log into the switch as Admin. The default password is password.

5. Select the Port Setting tab.

6. Select or deselect the checkboxes in the Trunking column to enable or
disable trunking for each port (deselect to disable trunking), as shown in

Figure 6.

7. Click Apply.

Trunking is immediately enabled or disabled for each port according to the
selections.

switch:admin> switchcfgtrunk 1

Committing configuration...done.

switch:admin>

Managing ISL Trunking

35ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Figure 6: Port Setting tab

Managing ISL Trunking

36 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Specifying Port Speeds

Port speeds can be set for the entire switch or for individual ports using either the
CLI or Web Tools. If trunking is enabled, the only supported speeds are 2 Gbit/sec
and auto-negotiate. If trunking is not enabled, 1 Gbit/sec is also supported.

Setting Port Speeds Using the CLI

A telnet or serial session can be used to set the port speed for an individual port or
the entire switch.

To specify the speed for all the ports on the switch using the CLI:

1. Open a CLI connection (telnet or serial) to the switch to be modified.

2. Log into the switch as Admin. The default password is password.

3. Enter the following:

switchcfgspeed <speedlevel>

where:
<Speedlevel> represents the link speed, as follows:

■ 0 - Auto-negotiating mode. The port automatically configures for the

highest speed.

■ 1 - 1 Gbit/sec mode. The port will be at fixed speed of 1 Gbit/sec. This

setting is not supported if trunking is enabled on the port.

■ 2 - 2 Gbit/sec mode. The port will be at fixed speed of 2 Gbit/sec.

Example 1. To set the speed for all ports on the switch to 2 Gbit/sec:

Example 2. To set the speed for all ports on the switch to auto-negotiate:

switch:admin> switchcfgspeed 2

Committing configuration...done.

switch:admin>

switch:admin> switchcfgspeed 0

Committing configuration...done.

switch:admin>

Managing ISL Trunking

37ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

To specify the speed for an individual port:

1. Open a CLI connection to the switch to be modified.

2. Log into the switch as Admin. The default password is password.

3. Enter the following:

portcfgspeed <slotnumber/portnumber speedlevel>

where:

■ <slotnumber> is the number of the switch slot; only required for the

Core Switch 2/64.

■ <portnumber> is the number of the port.

■ <speedlevel> is the speed of the link, as follows:

— 0 - Auto-negotiating mode; port automatically configures for highest

speed.

— 1 - 1 Gbit/sec mode; fixes port at fixed speed of 1 Gbit/sec (not

supported if trunking is enabled on the port.)

— 2 - 2 Gbit/sec mode; fixes port at fixed speed of 2 Gbit/sec.

Example 1. To set the speed for port 3 on slot 2 to 2 Gbit/sec:

Example 2. To set the speed for port 3 on slot 2 to auto-negotiate:

Setting Port Speeds Using Web Tools

Web Tools can be used to set the speed for one or more ports on a switch.
To specify the speed for one or more ports through Web Tools:

1. Launch Web Tools by launching the Web browser and entering the switch
name or IP address in the URL field.

2. Double-click to select the switch from the navigation tree.

switch:admin> portcfgspeed 2/3 2

done.

switch:admin>

switch:admin> portcfgspeed 2/3 0

done.

switch:admin>

Managing ISL Trunking

38 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

3. Click the Admin icon.

4. Log into the switch as Admin. The default password is password.

5. Choose the Port Setting tab.

6. Choose the arrow in the Change Speed column and select the desired speed
from the pull-down menu.

Note: Trunking only supports speeds set to auto-negotiating and 2 Gbit/sec.

7. Click Apply.
The ports are immediately set to the specified speeds.

Managing ISL Trunking

39ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Displaying Trunking Information

Web Tools or a telnet or serial session can be used to view information about the
trunking groups that exist on the local switch.

Displaying Trunking Information Using the CLI

The trunkshow command can be used to display information about trunking
groups. This command provides information in the following columns:

■ Number of the trunking group.

■ Port-to-port connections of the group, listed by port number (local port ->

remote port).

■ WWNs of the local ports in the group.

■ Deskew values—the time difference for traffic to travel over each ISL as

compared to the shortest ISL in the group. The number corresponds to
nanoseconds divided by 10. The firmware automatically sets the minimum
deskew value of the shortest ISL to 15.

■ Master Port for the trunking group.

To display trunking information through the CLI (telnet or serial session):

1. Open a CLI connection to the switch for which trunking information is
desired.

2. Log into the switch as Admin. The default password is password.

3. Enter the trunkshow command.

Managing ISL Trunking

40 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Example. The following example displays the trunkshow command output.

Displaying Trunking Information Using Web Tools

Web Tools lists each trunking group on the switch, with the Master and
Subordinate Ports for each group.

To display trunking information through Web Tools:

1. Launch the Web browser and enter the switch name or IP address in the URL
field.

2. Double-click to select the switch from the navigation tree.

3. Click the Admin icon.

4. Log into the switch as Admin. The default password is password.

5. Choose the Trunk Information tab, as shown in Figure 7.

switch:admin> trunkshow

1: 1 -> 1 10:00:00:60:69:04:10:83 deskew 16 Master

0 -> 0 10:00:00:60:69:04:10:83 deskew 15

2: 4 -> 4 10:00:00:60:69:04:01:94 deskew 16 Master

5 -> 5 10:00:00:60:69:04:01:94 deskew 15

7 -> 7 10:00:00:60:69:04:01:94 deskew 17

6 -> 6 10:00:00:60:69:04:01:94 deskew 16

3:14 -> 14 10:00:00:60:69:04:10:83 deskew 16 Master

15 -> 15 10:00:00:60:69:04:10:83 deskew 15

switch:admin>

Managing ISL Trunking

41ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

.

Figure 7: Trunk Information tab

Managing ISL Trunking

42 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting information can be accessed through two methods: the
trunkdebug command and the Error Log.

Debugging a Trunking ISL Failure

If a trunked ISL link fails, debugging information is available through the CLI for
use in troubleshooting and error correction.

To view debugging information for a trunking ISL failure:

1. Open a CLI connection to the switch to be modified.

2. Log into the switch as Admin. The default password is password.

3. Enter the following:

trunkdebug <AreaNumber1, AreaNumber2>

where:

■ <AreaNumber1> is the area number of one of the ports in the trunking

group

■ <AreaNumber2> is the area number of another of the ports in the

trunking group

Example. To view debug information for ports 3 and 5, where port 3 was not
correctly configured as an E_Port:

The debug error messages are self-explanatory. For more information about this
command, see “trunkdebug” on page 53.

switch:admin> trunkdebug 3 5
port 3 is not E port

switch:admin>

Managing ISL Trunking

43ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Interpreting ISL Trunking Error Messages

The only two error messages that relate to ISL Trunking are described below. The
error log can be accessed through the errshow and errdump commands.

Warning BLOOM-TRNK_MSTR_DWN...

This type of message indicates that the Master ISL has been disconnected or has
failed.

Example.

In this example,

■ 3 indicates the severity level of the error

(where 0 = panic, 1 = critical, 2 = error, 3 = warning, 4 = info, and 5 = debug).

■ S3 indicates the slot number

■ port 47 indicates the area number of the Master Port

■ [47 46] indicates the ports that are participating in the trunking group

If this error displays, the following actions are recommended:

■ Determine whether the Master ISL has been physically disconnected.

■ If the Master ISL has not been disconnected, enter the portlogdump and

fabstateshow commands, save the output, and contact Technical Support
for assistance.

Warning BLOOM-TRNK_SLV_DWN...

This type of message indicates that the Subordinate ISL has been disconnected or
has failed.

Example.

In this example,

■ 3 indicates the severity level of the error

(where 0 = panic, 1 = critical, 2 = error, 3 = warning, 4 = info, and 5 = debug).

■ S3 indicates the slot number

Warning BLOOM-TRNK_MSTR_DWN, 3, S3, P47: Trunk master port 47
goes OFFLINE in trunk group [47 46]

Warning BLOOM-TRNK_SLV_DWN, 3, S3, P46: Trunk slave port 46
goes OFFLINE in trunk group [47 46]

Managing ISL Trunking

44 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

■ port 46 indicates the area number of the Subordinate Port

■ [47 46] indicates the ports that are participating in the trunking group

If this error displays, the following actions are recommended:

■ Determine whether a Subordinate ISL has been physically disconnected.

■ If a Subordinate ISL has not been disconnected, enter the portlogdump

and fabstateshow commands, save the output, and contact Technical
Support for assistance.

Managing ISL Trunking

45ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Frequently Asked Questions About ISL Trunking

Tabl e 2 provides answers to some frequently asked questions regarding ISL

Trunking.

Table 2: Frequently Asked Questions about ISL Trunking

Frequently Asked Question Answer

Does ISL Trunking replace Dense
Wavelength Digital Multiplexing
(DWDM)?

No, DWDM is a ring topology, and
has a different function from trunking.
If a DWDM ISL fails, the traffic is
rerouted over alternate routes,
changing the data path.

Is a Trunking Master ISL the same as
the Principal ISL?

No, the roles are different, even though
they may apply to the same ISL.
Trunking Master ISL directs traffic over
a trunking group. The Principal ISL
connects to the Principal Switch, which
assigns domain IDs for the fabric.

Is it possible to create a trunk between
a switch and an edge device, such as
host or storage?

No, ISL Trunking is supported only for
interswitch links.

Is there a limit on the number of
trunking groups on one switch?

No, the number of trunking groups that
can be implemented on a switch are
limited only by the number of available
ports.

Are trunks automatically established
when the Trunking license is
activated?

Yes, if eligible ISLs exist, trunking
capability is enabled by default on
each port.

What happens if a Subordinate ISL
fails?

The traffic is redistributed over the
remaining ISLs in the group.

What happens if a Master ISL fails? There is a pause in the I/O as a new

Master ISL is designated and traffic is
redistributed.

Managing ISL Trunking

46 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Should port statistics be the same
across all participating ISLs within a
trunk?

No; although port statistics are usually
fairly evenly balanced, they can vary
with payload variations at the frame
level.

Which Extended Fabric Modes are
supported?

“L0” mode, which is the default mode.
If the ports in the potential trunking
group use any other modes, the
trunking group does not form.

Is trunking supported for 1 Gbit/sec? No, trunking requires 2 Gbit/sec

capacity.

Table 2: Frequently Asked Questions about ISL Trunking (Continued)

Frequently Asked Question Answer

47ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

A

ISL Trunking Commands

ISL Trunking includes several commands that can be used to configure settings
related to trunking, such as setting port speeds, enabling and disabling trunking,
debugging a trunk link, and displaying information about trunking.

ISL Trunking Commands

48 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Command List

Tabl e 3 provides summary information about the commands that relate to ISL

Trunking.

portcfgspeed

Syntax

This command uses the following syntax:

portcfgspeed <[slotnumber/]portnumber [speedlevel]>

Availability

This command is available to admin users only.

Description

Use this command to specify the speed of a port to a particular level. After this
command is issued, the port is disabled and then enabled so that the port comes up
with the new speed setting. The configuration is saved in the non-volatile memory
and is persistent across switch reboot or power cycle.

Table 3: Fabric OS Commands Related to ISL Trunking

Command Function Limitations

portcfgspeed Use to specify the port

speed.

Enter on the switch with
the port to be configured.

portcfgtrunkport Use to enable or disable

trunking for a port.

Enter on the switch with
the port to be configured.

switchcfgspeed Use to set all ports of the

switch to a particular speed.

Enter on the switch to
specify port speeds.

switchcfgtrunk Use to enable or disable

trunking for all the ports of a
switch.

Enter on the switch to
enable or disable ISL
Trunking.

trunkdebug Use to debug a trunk link

failure.

Enter on the switch to
debug a trunk failure.

trunkshow Use to display trunking

information.

Enter on the switch to
show ISL Trunking
information.

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49ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

If the command is specified without an operand, you are prompted to enter the
speed value.

The output of the portshow command displays the current achieved speed for
the port, and the portcfgshow command displays the desired speed setting for
the port.

Operands

This command has the following operands:

■ slotnumber - Specify the number of the blade that the port belongs to. This

operand is optional.

■ portnumber - Specify the port number where you want to set the speed.

This operand is required.

■ speedlevel - Specify the speed of the port. This operand is optional. Valid

level values are one of the following:
— 0 - Auto-negotiating mode. The port automatically configures for the

highest speed.
— 1 - 1 Gbit/sec mode. The port will be at fixed speed of 1 Gbit/sec.
— 2 - 2 Gbit/sec mode. The port will be at fixed speed of 2 Gbit/sec.

Example

Specifying the speed of port 3 on the port card in slot 2 to 2 Gbit/sec:

See Also

Also see the following related commands:

switchcfgspeed

portshow

switch:admin> portcfgspeed 2/3 2
done.

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50 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

portcfgtrunkport

Syntax

This command uses the following syntax:

portcfgtrunkport <[slotnumber/]portnumber [1|0]>

Availability

This command is available to admin users only.

Description

Use this command to specify a port to be enabled or disabled for trunking.

Note: This command requires a Trunking license.

Operands

This command has the following operands:
slotnumber - Specify the number of the blade that the port belongs to. This

operand is optional.
portnumber - Specify the port number where you want to enable or disable

trunking. This operand is required.
1|0 - Specify 1 to enable this port for trunking. Specify 0 to disable this port for

trunking. This operand is required.

Example

To enable port 3 on blade 1 for trunking:

switch:admin> portcfgtrunkport 1/3 1
Committing configuration...done.

ISL Trunking Commands

51ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

See Also

Also see the following related commands:

switchcfgtrunk

portshow

portcfgshow

switchshow

switchcfgspeed

Syntax

This command uses the following syntax:

switchcfgspeed <[speedlevel]>

Availability

This command is available to admin users only.

Description

Use this command to specify the speed of all the ports on a switch at a particular
level. The configuration is saved in the non-volatile memory and persists across
switch reboot or power cycle.

If the command is specified without an operand, you are prompted to enter the
speed level value. An input of CTRL-D cancels the configuration update.

The output of portshow and portcfgshow displays the speed level:

■ In the portshow output, the speed level is indicated as the current port speed

of “1 Gbps” or “2 Gbps.”

■ In the portcfgshow output, the speed level is indicated as “1 G”, “2 G”, or

“AN” (Auto-Negotiate).

Operands

This command has the following operand:
speedlevel - Specify the speed of a port. This operand is optional. Valid

values are one of the following:

■ 0 - Auto-negotiating mode. The port automatically configures for the highest

speed.

ISL Trunking Commands

52 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

■ 1 - 1 Gbit/sec mode. The port will be at fixed speed of 1 Gbit/sec.

■ 2 - 2 Gbit/sec mode. The port will be at fixed speed of 2 Gbit/sec.

If the command is specified without an operand, you are prompted to enter a
value.

Example

Setting the speed level for all ports on a switch to 2 Gbit/sec:

See Also

Also see the following related commands:

portcfgspeed

switchshow

switchcfgtrunk

Syntax

This command uses the following syntax:

switchcfgtrunk <0|1>

Availability

This command is available to admin users only.

Description

Use this command to enable or disable trunking on all the ports of a switch.

Note: This command requires the Trunking license.

switch:admin> switchcfgspeed 2
Committing configuration...done.
switch:admin>

ISL Trunking Commands

53ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Operands

This command has the following required operand:
0|1 - Specify 1 to enable trunking on all the ports on this switch. Specify 0 to

disable trunking on all the ports on this switch.

Example

Enabling trunking on a switch:

See Also

Also see the following related commands:

portcfgtrunkport

portshow

portcfgshow

switchshow

trunkdebug

Syntax

This command uses the following syntax:

trunkdebug <AreaNumber1, AreaNumber2>

Availability

This command is available to admin users only.

Description

Use this command to debug a trunk link failure. This command reports one of the
following messages based on the trunking properties of the two specified ports:

■ Switch doesn’t support trunking

■ Trunking license required

■ Trunking is not supported in switch interop mode

■ port<port_id> is not E_Port

switch:admin> switchcfgtrunk 1
Committing configuration...done.

ISL Trunking Commands

54 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

■ port<port_id> trunking disabled

■ port<port_id> speed is not 2G

■ port<port_id> and port<port_id> are not on same quad

■ port<port_id> and port<port_id> connect to different

switches

■ port<port_id> is not Trunking Port due to: E_Port

being disabled, or trunking may be disabled at
remote port

■ port<port_id> and port<port_id> can't trunk, please

check ISL length to make sure difference is less
than 400 meters

Operands

This command has the following operands:

■ AreaNumber1 - Specify the area number of port 1 (0-63). This operand is

required.

■ AreaNumber2 - Specify the area number of port 2 (0-63). This operand is

required.

Note: The area number is an alternate designation to slot/port. Ports are numbered

beginning with the bottom port in the left-most slot (when facing the port side of the
chassis), up each card then continuing at the bottom of the next card, and ending with
the port at the top of the right-most slot. For the Core Switch 2/64, area numbers range
from 0 to 63 for each logical switch; if a slot is empty, the numbers that would be
assigned to that card are skipped.

Example

Debugging a trunk connection:

switch:admin> trunkdebug 43 44
Switch doesn’t support trunking.

ISL Trunking Commands

55ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

See Also

Also see the following related commands:

trunkshow

portcfgtrunkport

switchcfgtrunk

ISL Trunking Commands

56 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

trunkshow

Syntax

This command uses the following syntax:

trunkshow

Availability

This command is available to all users.

Description

Use this command to display trunking information. The fields displayed are as
follows:

■ Trunking Group Number - Displays each trunking group on a switch.

All the ports that are part of this trunking group are displayed.

■ Port to port connections - Displays the port to port trunking

connections.

■ WWN - Displays the WWN of the connected port.

■ deskew - Displays the time difference for traffic to travel over the indicated

ISL as compared to the shortest ISL in the group. The number corresponds to
nanoseconds divided by 10. The firmware automatically sets the minimum
deskew value of the shortest ISL to 15.

■ Master - Displays whether this trunking port connection is the Master port

connection for the trunking group.

Operands

None.

ISL Trunking Commands

57ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Example

Displaying trunking information for a switch:

See Also

Also see the following related commands:

portcfgtrunkport

switchcfgtrunk

switch:admin> trunkshow

1: 1 -> 1 10:00:00:60:69:04:10:83 deskew 15 Master

0 -> 0 10:00:00:60:69:04:10:83 deskew 15

2: 4 -> 4 10:00:00:60:69:04:01:94 deskew 16 Master

5 -> 5 10:00:00:60:69:04:01:94 deskew 15

7 -> 7 10:00:00:60:69:04:01:94 deskew 17

6 -> 6 10:00:00:60:69:04:01:94 deskew 16

3:14 -> 14 10:00:00:60:69:04:10:83 deskew 16 Master

15 -> 15 10:00:00:60:69:04:10:83 deskew 15

ISL Trunking Commands

58 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

59ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

glossary

Glossary

Glossary

This glossary defines terms used in this guide or related to this product and is not
a comprehensive glossary of computer terms.

16-port card

The Fibre Channel port card provided with the StorageWorks Core switch. Contains 16 Fibre
Channel ports and the corresponding LEDs indicating port status and speed.

See also port card.

8b/10b Encoding

An encoding scheme that converts each 8-bit byte into 10 bits. Used to balance ones and zeros in
high-speed transports.

Access Control List

Enables an organization to bind a specific WWN to a specific switch port or set of ports, preventing
a port in another physical location from assuming the identity of a real WWN. May also refer to a
list of the Read/Write access of a particular community string.

See also device connection controls.

Account Level Switches

Refers to switches that have four login accounts into the operating system (in descending order):
root, factory, admin, and user.

See also root account, factory account, admin account, and user account.

Address Identifier

A 24-bit or 8-bit value used to identify the source or destination of a frame.

Admin Account

A login account intended for use by the customer to control switch operation.
See also account level switches.

AL_PA

Arbitrated Loop Physical Address. A unique 8-bit value assigned during loop initialization to a
port in an arbitrated loop.

Glossary

60 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Alias

An alternate name for an element or group of elements in the fabric. Aliases can be used to
simplify the entry of port numbers and WWNs when creating zones.

Alias Address Identifier

An address identifier recognized by a port in addition to its standard identifier. An alias address
identifier may be shared by multiple ports.

See also alias.

Alias AL_PA

An AL_PA value recognized by an L_Port in addition to the AL_PA assigned to the port.
See also AL_PA.

Alias Server

A fabric software facility that supports multicast group management.

ANSI

American National Standards Institute. The governing body for Fibre Channel standards in the
U.S.A.

API

Application Programming Interface. Defined protocol that allows applications to interface with a
set of services.

Arbitrated Loop

A shared 100 or 200 MBps Fibre Channel transport structured as a loop. Can support up to 126
devices and one fabric attachment.

See also topology.

Arbitrating State

The state in which a port has become the loop master. This state is only available from the Open
state.

Area Number

A number assigned to each potential port location in the StorageWorks Core switch. Used to
distinguish StorageWorks Core switch ports that have the same port number but are on different
port blades.

ASIC

Application Specific Integrated Circuit.

Glossary

61ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

ATM

Asynchronous Transfer Mode. A transport used for transmitting data over LANs or WANs that
transmit fixed-length units of data. Provides any-to-any connectivity, and allows nodes to transmit
simultaneously.

Auto-negotiate Speed

Process that allows two devices at either end of a link segment to negotiate common features, speed
(e.g., 1 or 2 Gbps) and functions.

Autosense

Process during which a network device automatically senses the speed of another device.

AW_TOV

Arbitration Wait Time-out Value. The minimum time an arbitrating L_Port waits for a response
before beginning loop initialization.

Backup FCS Switch

Backup fabric configuration server switch. The switch or switches assigned as backup in case the
primary FCS switch fails.

See also FCS switch, primary FCS switch.

Bandwidth

The total transmission capacity of a cable, link, or system. Usually measured in bps (bits per
second). May also refer to the range of transmission frequencies available to a network.

See also throughput.

BB_Credit

Buffer-to-buffer credit. The number of frames that can be transmitted to a directly connected
recipient or within an arbitrated loop. Determined by the number of receive buffers available.

See also Buffer-to-buffer Flow Control, EE_Credit.

Beacon

When all the port LEDs on a switch are set to flash from one side of the switch to the other, to
enable identification of an individual switch in a large fabric. A switch can be set to beacon by
telnet command or through Web Tools.

Beaconing

The state of the switches LEDs when the switch is set to Beacon.
See also Beacon.

Glossary

62 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Beginning Running Disparity

The disparity at the transmitter or receiver when the special character associated with an ordered
set is encoded or decoded.

See also disparity.

BER

Bit Error Rate. The rate at which bits are expected to be received in error. Expressed as the ratio of
error bits to total bits transmitted.

See also error.

BISR

Built-In Self Repair. Refers to the range of algorithms and circuit techniques to replace fault
elements in a VLSI circuit with redundant fault-free ones.

See also BIST, CMBISR.

BIST

Built-In Self Test. The technique of designing circuits with additional logic which can be used to
test proper operation of the primary (functional) logic.

See also BISR, CMBISR.

Bit Synchronization

See BER.

Blade

See 16-port card.

Blind-mate Connector

A two-way connector used in some switches to provide a connection between the motherboard and
the power supply.

Block

As applies to Fibre Channel, upper-level application data that is transferred in a single sequence.

Blower Assembly

A fan that prevents a switch (or individual elements within a switch) from overheating.

Boot Flash

Flash memory that stores the boot code and boot parameters. The processor executes its first
instructions from boot flash. Data is cached in RAM.

Glossary

63ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Boot Monitor

Code used to initialize the CP (control processor) environment after powering on. Identifies the
amount of memory available and how to access it, and retrieves information about system buses.

Broadcast

The transmission of data from a single source to all devices in the fabric, regardless of zoning.
See also multicast, unicast.

Buffer

-to-buffer Flow Control

Management of the frame transmission rate in either a point-to-point topology or in an arbitrated
loop.

See also BB_Credit.

Cascade

Two or more interconnected Fibre Channel switches. StorageWorks 1 Gb SAN switches (running
Fabric OS V2) and later can be cascaded up to 239 switches, with a recommended maximum of
seven interswitch links (no path longer than eight switches).

See also fabric, ISL.

Chassis

The metal frame in which the switch and switch components are mounted.

Circuit

An established communication path between two ports. Consists of two virtual circuits capable of
transmitting in opposite directions.

See also link.

Class 1

Service that provides a dedicated connection between two ports (also called connection-oriented
service), with notification of delivery or non-delivery.

Class 2

Service that provides multiplex and connectionless frame switching service between two ports,
with notification of delivery or non-delivery.

Class 3

Service that provides a connectionless frame switching service between two ports, without
notification of delivery or non-delivery of data. This service can also be used to provide a multicast
connection between the originator and recipients, with notification of delivery or non-delivery.

Glossary

64 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Class F

Connectionless service for control traffic between switches, with notification of delivery or
non-delivery of data between the E_Ports.

Class of Service

A specified set of delivery characteristics and attributes for frame delivery.

CLI

Command line interface. Interface that depends entirely on the use of commands, such as through
telnet or SNMP, and does not involve a Graphic User Interface (GUI).

CLS

Close Primitive Signal. Only in an Arbitrated Loop; sent by an L_Port that is currently
communicating on the loop, to close communication to an other L_Port.

CMBISR

Central Memory Built-In Self Repair. Test and repair bad cells in the central memory. If a "fail" is
reported, inform Tech Support and replace the board.

See also BIST, BISR.

Comma

A unique pattern (either 1100000 or 0011111) used in 8b/10b encoding to specify character
alignment within a data stream.

See also K28.5.

Community (SNMP)

A relationship between a group of SNMP managers and an SNMP agent, in which authentication,
access control, and proxy characteristics are defined.

See also SNMP.

Compact Flash

Flash memory that stores the run-time operating system and is used like hard disk storage. Not
visible within the processor's memory space. Data is stored in file system format.

Glossary

65ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Configuration

How a system is set up. May refer to hardware or software.

■ Hardware: The number, type, and arrangement of components that make up a system or

network.

■ Software: The set of parameters that guide switch operation. May include general system

parameters, IP address information, Domain ID, and other information. Modifiable by any

login with administrative privileges.
May also refer to a set of zones.
See also zone configuration.

Connection Initiator

A port that has originated a Class 1 dedicated connection and received a response from the
recipient.

Connection Recipient

A port that has received a Class 1 dedicated connection request and transmitted a response to the
originator.

Control Panel

Refers to the left-side panel of Web Tools, which accesses fabric-wide functions such as Zoning
and Events.

Core Switch

A switch whose main task is to interconnect other switches.
See also SAN switch.

CP Card

Control Processor Card. The central processing unit of the StorageWorks Core switch, which
contains two CP Card slots to provide redundancy. Provides Ethernet, serial, and modem ports with
the corresponding LEDs.

CRC

Cyclic Redundancy Check. A check for transmission errors included in every data frame.

Credit

As applies to Fibre Channel, the number of receive buffers available for transmission of frames
between ports.

See also BB_Credit, EE_Credit.

Glossary

66 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

CT_HDR

Common Transport Header. A header that conforms to the Fibre Channel Common Transport
(FC_CT) protocol.

CT_IU

Common Transport Information Unit. An information unit that conforms to the Fibre Channel
Common Transport (FC_CT) protocol.

Current Fill Word

The fill word currently selected by the LPSM.
See also fill word, LPSM.

Cut-through

A switching technique that allows the route for a frame to be selected as soon as the destination
address is received.

See also route.

Data Word

Type of transmission word that occurs within frames. The frame header, data field, and CRC all
consist of data words.

See also frame, ordered set, transmission word.

DB-9 connector

A 9-pin version of the RS-232C port interface. May be either the male of female interface.
See also RS-232 port.

dBm

Logarithmic unit of power used in electronics. Indicates signal strength in decibels above the
reference level, which is 1 milliwatt for dBm. An increase of 10 dBm or represents a 10-fold
increase in power.

DCE port

A data communications equipment port capable of interfacing between a DTE (data terminal
equipment) port and a transmission circuit. DTE devices with an RS-232 (or EIA-232) port
interface transmit on pin 3, and receive on pin 2.

See also DTE port, RS-232 port.

Defined Zone Configuration

The set of all zone objects defined in the fabric. May include multiple zone configurations.
See also enabled zone configuration, zone configuration.

Glossary

67ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Device Connection Controls

Enables organizations to bind an individual device port to a set of one or more switch ports. Device
ports are specified by a WWN and typically represent HBAs (servers).

See also access control lists.

Device

A disk, a RAID, or an HBA.

Disparity

The relationship of ones and zeros in an encoded character. “Neutral disparity” means an equal
number of each, “positive disparity” means a majority of ones, and “negative disparity” means a
majority of zeros.

DLS

Dynamic Load Sharing. Dynamic distribution of traffic over available paths. Allows for
recomputing of routes when an Fx_Port or E_Port changes status.

Domain ID

As applies to HP StorageWorks switches, a unique number between 1 and 239 that identifies the
switch to the fabric and is used in routing frames. Usually automatically assigned by the switch, but
can be manually assigned.

DTE port

A data terminal equipment port capable of interfacing to a transmission circuit through a
connection to a DCE (data communications equipment) port. DTE devices with an RS-232 (or
EIA-232) port interface transmit on pin 3, and receive on pin 2 in a 9-pin connector (reversed in
25-pin connectors).

See also DCE port, RS-232 port.

DWDM

Dense Wavelength Multiplexing. A means to concurrently transmit more than one stream of data
through a single fiber by modulating each stream of data onto a different wavelength of light.

E_D_TOV

Error Detect Time-out Value. The minimum amount of time a target waits for a sequence to
complete before initiating recovery. Can also be defined as the maximum time allowed for a
round-trip transmission before an error condition is declared.

See also R_A_TOV, RR_TOV.

Glossary

68 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

E_Port

Expansion Port. A type of switch port that can be connected to an E_Port on another switch to
create an ISL.

See also ISL.

EE_Credit

End-to-end Credit. The number of receive buffers allocated by a recipient port to an originating
port. Used by Class 1 and 2 services to manage the exchange of frames across the fabric between
source and destination.

See also End-to-end Flow Control, BB_Credit.

EIA Rack

A storage rack that meets the standards set by the Electronics Industry Association.

ELWL

Extra Long Wavelength. Laser light with a periodic length greater than 1300 nm (e.g., 1420 or

1550). ELWL lasers are used to transmit Fibre Channel data over distances greater than 10 Km.
Also known as XLWL.

Enabled Zone Configuration

The currently enabled zone configuration. Only one configuration can be enabled at a time.
See also defined zone configuration, zone configuration.

End-to-end Flow Control

Governs flow of class 1 and 2 frames between N_Ports.
See also EE_Credit.

Entry Fabric

Basic HP license that allows one E_Port per switch. Not supported by StorageWorks Core
switches.

Error

As applies to Fibre Channel, a missing or corrupted frame, time-out, loss of synchronization, or
loss of signal (link errors).

See also loop failure.

ESD

Electrostatic Discharge.

Glossary

69ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Exchange

The highest level Fibre Channel mechanism used for communication between N_Ports. Composed
of one or more related sequences, and can work in either one or both directions.

Extended Fabric

An HP product that runs on Fabric OS and allows creation of a Fibre Channel fabric interconnected
over distances of up to 100 kilometers.

Extended Fabric is a means of allowing the implementation and management of SANs over
extended distances. This is achieved by adjusting the Buffer-to-Buffer Credits to guaranteed
allocation of buffers to specific ports.

F_Port

Fabric Port. A port that is able to transmit under fabric protocol and interface over links. Can be
used to connect an N_Port to a switch.

See also FL_Port, Fx_Port.

Fabric

A Fibre Channel network containing two or more interconnected switches in addition to hosts and
devices. May also be referred to as a switched fabric.

See also topology, SAN, cascade.

Fabric Access

An HP product that consists of a set of APIs that allow third party applications to interface with
Fabric OS.

Fabric Access allows the application to control the fabric directly for functions such as discovery,
access (zoning), management, performance, and switch control. Consists of a host-based library
that interfaces the application to switches in the fabric over an out-of-band TCP/IP connection or
in-band using an IP-capable Host Bus Adapter (HBA).

Fabric Assist

An HP feature that enables private and public hosts to access public targets anywhere on the fabric,
provided they are in the same Fabric Assist zone. This feature is available only when both
QuickLoop and Zoning are installed on the switch.

Fabric Assist is a means of allowing private hosts to communicate with public targets across a
switched fabric. Fabric Assist also allows private hosts to communicate with private targets that are
not resident on the same switch across a switched fabric.

See also QuickLoop.

Glossary

70 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

Fabric Configuration Server

One or more designated HP switches that store and manage the configuration and security
parameters for all other switches in the fabric. These switches are designated by WWN, and the list
of designated switches is known fabric-wide.

Fabric Manager

An HP product that works in conjunction with Web Tools to provide a graphical user interface for
managing switch groups (such as the SAN Switch Integrated/32) as a single unit, instead of as
separate switches. Fabric Manager is installed on and run from a computer workstation.

Fabric Name

The unique identifier assigned to a fabric and communicated during login and port discovery.

Fabric OS

The proprietary operating system on HP StorageWorks switches.

Fabric Watch

An HP product that runs on Fabric OS and allows monitoring and configuration of fabric and
switch elements.

Allows the SAN manager to monitor key fabric and switch elements, making it easy to quickly
identify and escalate potential problems. It monitors each element for out-of-boundary values or
counters and provides notification when defined boundaries are exceeded. The SAN manager can
configure which elements, such as error, status, and performance counters, are monitored within an
HP switch.

See also Fabric Manager.

Factory Account

A login used during manufacturing to initialize and test a switch and is not intended for customer
use.

See also account level switches.

Failover

The act that causes control to pass from one redundant unit to another. In the StorageWorks Core
switch one may failover from the currently Active Control Processor (CP) to the Standby CP.

FAN

Fabric access notification. Retains the AL_PA and fabric address when loop re-initializes (if the
switch supports FAN).

FC-AL-3

The Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop standard defined by ANSI. Defined on top of the FC-PH
standards.

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FC-FLA

The Fibre Channel Fabric Loop Attach standard defined by ANSI.

FCIA

Fibre Channel Industry Association. An international organization of Fibre Channel industry
professionals. Among other things, provides oversight of ANSI and industry developed standards.

FCP

Fibre Channel Protocol. Mapping of protocols onto the Fibre Channel standard protocols. For
example, SCSI FCP maps SCSI-3 onto Fibre Channel.

FC-PH-1, 2, 3

The Fibre Channel Physical and Signaling Interface standards defined by ANSI.

FC-PI

The Fibre Channel Physical Interface standard defined by ANSI.

FC-PLDA

The Fibre Channel Private Loop Direct Attach standard defined by ANSI. Applies to the operation
of peripheral devices on a private loop.

FCS switch

Fabric configuration server switch. One or more designated HP switches that store and manage the
configuration and security parameters for all switches in the fabric. FCS switches are designated by
WWN, and the list of designated switches is communicated fabric-wide.

See also backup FCS switch, primary FCS switch.

FC-SW-2

The second generation of the Fibre Channel Switch Fabric standard defined by ANSI. Specifies
tools and algorithms for the interconnection and initialization of Fibre Channel switches in order to
create a multi-switch Fibre Channel fabric.

Fibre Channel Transport

A protocol service that supports communication between Fibre Channel service providers.
See also FSP.

FIFO

First In, First Out. May also refer to a data buffer that follows the first in, first out rule.

Fill Word

An IDLE or ARB ordered set that is transmitted during breaks between data frames to keep the
Fibre Channel link active.

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Firmware Download

Loading firmware down from a server into a switch.

Firmware

The basic operating system provided with the hardware.

FL_Port

Fabric Loop Port. A port that is able to transmit under fabric protocol and also has arbitrated loop
capabilities. Can be used to connect an NL_Port to a switch.

See also F_Port, Fx_Port.

Flash Partition

Two redundant usable areas, called “partitions,” into which firmware can be downloaded in the
StorageWorks Core switch.

Flash

Programmable NVRAM memory that maintains its contents.

FLOGI

Fabric Login. The process by which an N_Port determines whether a fabric is present, and if so,
exchanges service parameters with it.

See also PLOGI.

Frame

The Fibre Channel structure used to transmit data between ports. Consists of a start-of-frame
delimiter, header, any optional headers, the data payload, a cyclic redundancy check (CRC), and an
end-of-frame delimiter. There are two types of frames: Link control frames (transmission
acknowledgements, etc.) and data frames.

See also Data Word.

FRU

Field Replaceable Unit. A component that can be replaced on site.

FS_ACC

Fibre Channel Services Accept. The information unit used to indicate acceptance of a request for a
Fibre Channel service.

FS_IU

Fibre Channel Services Information Unit. An information unit that has been defined by a Fibre
Channel service.

Glossary

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FS_REQ

Fibre Channel Services Request. A request for a Fibre Channel services function, or notification of
a fabric condition or event.

FS_RJT

Fibre Channel Services Reject. An indication that a request for Fibre Channel services could not be
processed.

FS

Fibre Channel Service. A service that is defined by Fibre Channel standards and exists at a
well-known address. For example, the Simple Name Server is a Fibre Channel service.

See also FSP.

FSPF

Fabric Shortest Path First. HP routing protocol for Fibre Channel switches.

FSP

Fibre Channel Service Protocol. The common protocol for all fabric services, transparent to the
fabric type or topology.

See also FS.

Full Fabric

The HP license that allows multiple E_Ports on a switch, making it possible to create multiple ISL
links.

Full-duplex

A mode of communication that allows the same port to simultaneously transmit and receive
frames.

See also half-duplex.

Fx_Port

A fabric port that can operate as either an F_Port or FL_Port.
See also F_Port, FL_Port.

G_Port

Generic Port. A port that can operate as either an E_Port or F_Port. A port is defined as a G_Port
when it is not yet connected or has not yet assumed a specific function in the fabric.

Gateway

Hardware that connects incompatible networks by providing translation for both hardware and
software. For example, an ATM gateway can be used to connect a Fibre Channel link to an ATM
connection.

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GBIC

Gigabit interface converter. A removable serial transceiver module that allows gigabaud
physical-level transport for Fibre Channel and gigabit Ethernet. Typically refers only to the
SC-form factor transceivers.

See also SFP.

Gbps

Gigabits per second (1,062,500,000 bits/second).

GBps

Gigabytes per second (1,062,500,000 bytes/second).

Half-duplex

A mode of communication that allows a port to either transmit or receive frames at any time, but
not simultaneously (with the exception of link control frames, which can be transmitted at any
time).

See also full-duplex.

Hard Address

The AL_PA that an NL_Port attempts to acquire during loop initialization.

Hardware Translative Mode

A method for achieving address translation. The following two hardware translative modes are
available to a QuickLoop-enabled switch:

■ Standard Translative Mode: Allows public devices to communicate with private devices that

are directly connected to the fabric.

■ QuickLoop Mode: Allows initiator devices to communicate with private or public devices that

are not in the same loop.

HBA

Host Bus Adapter. The interface card between a server or workstation bus and the Fibre Channel
network.

High Availability

An attribute of equipment that identifies it as being capable of conducting customer operations well
in excess of 99% of the time. Typically High Availability is identified by the number of nines in
that percentage. “Five Nines” means the equipment is rated as being capable of conducting
customer operations 99.999% of the time without failure.

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Host

A computer that accesses storage devices over the fabric. May also be referred to as a server.
See also workstation.

Hot Pluggable

A FRU capability that indicates it may be extracted or installed while customer data is otherwise
flowing in the chassis.

Hub

A Fibre Channel wiring concentrator that collapses a loop topology into a physical star topology.
Nodes are automatically added to the loop when active and removed when inactive.

IBTA

The InfiniBand Trade Association (IBTA). The IBTA is an industry consortium of more than 200
companies working together to develop a new common I/O specification designed to bring greater
scalability and performance to server I/O. InfiniBand defines a new channel based, switched-fabric
technology for server-to-server and server-to-I/O interconnection that is expected to improve
scalability and performance over existing PCI Bus technologies.

Idle

Continuous transmission of an ordered set over a Fibre Channel link when no data is being
transmitted, to keep the link active and maintain bit, byte, and word synchronization.

InfiniBand

See IBTA.

Initiator

A server or workstation on a Fibre Channel network that initiates communications with storage
devices.

See also Target.

Integrated Fabric

The fabric created by a SAN Switch Integrated/32 and SAN Switch Integrated/64, consisting of six
SAN Switch 16-EL switches cabled together and configured to handle traffic as a seamless group.

IOD

In-order Delivery. A parameter that, when set, guarantees that frames are either delivered in order
or dropped.

IPA

Initial Process Associator. An identifier associated with a process at an N_Port.

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Isolated E_Port

An E_Port that is online but not operational due to overlapping Domain IDs or nonidentical
parameters (such as E_D_TOVs).

See also E_Port.

ISL

Interswitch Link. a Fibre Channel link from the E_Port of one switch to the E_Port of another.
See also E_Port, cascade, ISL Trunking.

ISL Trunking

An HP feature that enables distribution of traffic over the combined bandwidth of up to four ISLs
(between adjacent switches), while preserving in-order delivery. A set of trunked ISLs is called a
trunking group; each port employed in a trunking group is called a trunking port.

See also Master Port.

IU

Information Unit. A set of information as defined by either upper-level process protocol definition
or upper-level protocol mapping.

JBOD

Just a Bunch Of Disks. Indicates a number of disks connected in a single chassis to one or more
controllers.

See also RAID.

K28.5

A special 10-bit character used to indicate the beginning of a transmission word that performs
Fibre Channel control and signaling functions. The first seven bits of the character are the comma
pattern.

See also comma.

Kernel Flash

Flash memory that stores the bootable kernel code and is visible within the processor's memory
space. Data is stored as raw bits.

Key Pair

In public key cryptography, a pair of keys consisting of an entity's public and private key. The
public key can be publicized, but the private key must be kept secret.

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L_Port

Loop Port. A node port (NL_Port) or fabric port (FL_Port) that has arbitrated loop capabilities. An
L_Port can be in one of two modes:

■ Fabric mode: Connected to a port that is not loop capable, and using fabric protocol.

■ Loop mode: In an arbitrated loop and using loop protocol. An L_Port in loop mode can also be

in participating mode or non-participating mode.
See also Non-participating Mode, Participating Mode.

Latency

The period of time required to transmit a frame, from the time it is sent until it arrives. Together,
latency and bandwidth define the speed and capacity of a link or system.

LED

Light Emitting Diode. Used on HP switches to indicate the status of various switch elements.

Link Services

A protocol for link-related actions.

Link

As applies to Fibre Channel, a physical connection between two ports, consisting of both transmit
and receive fibers.

See also Circuit.

LIP

Loop Initialization Primitive. The signal used to begin initialization in a loop. Indicates either loop
failure or resetting of a node.

LIS_HOLD_TIME

Loop Initialization Sequence Hold Time. The maximum period of time for a node to forward a
loop initialization sequence.

LM_TOV

Loop Master Time-out Value. The minimum time that the loop master waits for a loop initialization
sequence to return.

Login BB_Credit

The number of receive buffers a receiving L_Port has available when a circuit is first established.
See also BB_Credit.

Loop Circuit

A temporary bidirectional communication path established between L_Ports.

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Loop Failure

Loss of signal within a loop for any period of time, or loss of synchronization for longer than the
time-out value.

See also error.

Loop Initialization

The logical procedure used by an L_Port to discover its environment. Can be used to assign AL_PA
addresses, detect loop failure, or reset a node.

Loop_ID

A hex value representing one of the 127 possible AL_PA values in an arbitrated loop.

Looplet

A set of devices connected in a loop to a port that is a member of another loop.

LPSM

Loop Port State Machine. The logical entity that performs arbitrated loop protocols and defines the
behavior of L_Ports when they require access to an arbitrated loop.

LWL

Long Wavelength. A type of fiber optic cabling that is based on 1300-mm lasers and supports link
speeds of 1.0625 Gbps. May also refer to the type of GBIC or SFP.

See also SWL.

Master Port

As relates to trunking, the port that determines the routing paths for all traffic flowing through the
trunking group. One of the ports in the first ISL in the trunking group is designated as the master
port for that group.

See also ISL Trunking.

Media

See transceiver.

MIB

Management Information Base. An SNMP structure to help with device management, providing
configuration and device information.

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Modem Serial Port

The upper serial port on the CP Card of the StorageWorks Core switch. Can be used to connect the
CP Card to a modem with a standard 9-pin modem cable. Consists of a DB-9 connector wired as a
RS-232 device, and can be connected by serial cable to a DCE device. A Hayes-compatible modem
or Hayes-emulation is required. The device name is ttyS1.

See also DB-9 connector, DCE port, terminal serial port.

Monitoring State

The state in which a port is monitoring the flow of information for data relevant to the port.

Multicast

The transmission of data from a single source to multiple specified N_Ports (as opposed to all the
ports on the network).

See also broadcast, unicast.

Multimode

A fiber optic cabling specification that allows up to 500 meters between devices for 1 Gb, or 300
meters between devices for 2 Gb.

N_Port

Node Port. A port on a node that can connect to a Fibre Channel port or to another N_Port in a
point-to-point connection.

See also NL_Port, Nx_Port.

NAA

Network Address Authority. An identifier that indicates the format of a network address.

Name Server

Frequently used to indicate Simple Name Server.
See also SNS.

Native Address Identifier

A unique, 64-bit address is assigned to each port, and is referred to as its World-Wide Name
(WWN). If a port connects to an arbitrated loop, it will also be assigned a dynamic 8-bit address,
referred to as its arbitrated loop physical address, or AL_PA. If it connects to a fabric, it will be
assigned a dynamic 24-bit address, referred to as its Native Address Identifier.

Negotiate

See auto-negotiate speed and autosense.

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NL_Port

Node Loop Port. A node port that has arbitrated loop capabilities. Used to connect an equipment
port to the fabric in a loop configuration through an FL_Port.

See also N_Port, Nx_Port.

Node Name

The unique identifier for a node, communicated during login and port discovery.

Node

A Fibre Channel device that contains an N_Port or NL_Port.

Non-participating Mode

A mode in which an L_Port in a loop is inactive and cannot arbitrate or send frames, but can
retransmit any received transmissions. This mode is entered if there are more than 127 devices in a
loop and an AL_PA cannot be acquired.

See also L_Port, Participating Mode.

Nx_Port

A node port that can operate as either an N_Port or NL_Port.

Open Originator

The L_Port that wins arbitration in an arbitrated loop and sends an OPN ordered set to the
destination port, then enters the Open state.

Open Recipient

The L_Port that receives the OPN ordered set from the open originator, and then enters the Open
state.

Open State

The state in which a port can establish a circuit with another port. A port must be in the Open state
before it can arbitrate.

OPN

Open Primitive Signal.

Glossary

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Ordered Set

A transmission word that uses 8B/10B mapping and begins with the K28.5 character. Ordered sets
occur outside of frames, and include the following items:

■ Frame delimiters: Mark frame boundaries and describe frame contents.

■ Primitive signals: Indicate events.

■ Primitive sequences: Indicate or initiate port states.

Ordered sets are used to differentiate Fibre Channel control information from data frames and to
manage the transport of frames.

Packet

A set of information transmitted across a network.
See also Frame.

Participating Mode

A mode in which an L_Port in a loop has a valid AL_PA and can arbitrate, send frames, and
retransmit received transmissions.

See also L_Port, Non-participating Mode.

Path Selection

The selection of a transmission path through the fabric. HP StorageWorks switches use the FSPF
protocol.

Performance Monitor

Comprehensive HP tool for monitoring the performance of networked storage resources.

Performance Monitoring

An HP product that provides error and performance information to the administrator and end user
for use in storage management.

Phantom Address

An AL_PA value that is assigned to an device that is not physically in the loop.
Also known as phantom AL_PA.

Phantom Device

A device that is not physically in an arbitrated loop, but is logically included through the use of a
phantom address.

PLOGI

Port Login. The port-to-port login process by which initiators establish sessions with targets.
See also FLOGI.

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Point-to-point

A Fibre Channel topology that employs direct links between each pair of communicating entities.
See also topology.

Port Cage

The metal casing extending out of the optical port on the switch, and in which the SFP can be
inserted.

Port Card

A Fibre Channel card that contains optical or copper port interfaces, and acts like a switch module.
See also 16-port card.

Port Module

A collection of ports in a switch.

Port_Name

The unique identifier assigned to a Fibre Channel port. Communicated during login and port
discovery.

POST

Power On Self-Test. A series of tests run by a switch after it is turned on.

Primary FCS Switch

Primary fabric configuration server switch. The switch that actively manages the configuration and
security parameters for all switches in the fabric.

See also backup FCS switch, FCS switch.

Private Device

A device that supports arbitrated loop protocol and can interpret 8-bit addresses, but cannot log
into the fabric.

Private Loop

An arbitrated loop that does not include a participating FL_Port.

Private NL_Port

An NL_Port that communicates only with other private NL_Ports in the same loop and does not
log into the fabric.

Protocol

A defined method and a set of standards for communication.

PSU

Power Supply Unit.

Glossary

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Public Device

A device that supports arbitrated loop protocol, can interpret 8-bit addresses, and can log into the
fabric.

Public Loop

An arbitrated loop that includes a participating FL_Port, and may contain both public and private
NL_Ports.

Public NL_Port

An NL_Port that logs into the fabric, can function within either a public or a private loop, and can
communicate with either private or public NL_Ports.

Quad

A group of four adjacent ports that share a common pool of frame buffers.

QuickLoop

An HP StorageWorks product that makes it possible to allow private devices within loops to
communicate with public and private devices across the fabric through the creation of a larger loop.

May also refer to the arbitrated loop created using this software. A QuickLoop can contain a
number of devices or looplets; all devices in the same QuickLoop share a single AL_PA space.

A means of allowing private hosts to communicate with private targets across a switched fabric.
The QuickLoop/Fabric Assist feature also allows:

■ Private hosts to communicate with public targets across a switched fabric

■ Private hosts to communicate with private targets that are not resident on the same switch

across a switched fabric
See also Fabric Access, fabric assist, and translative mode.

QuickLoop Zoning

Protects devices from disruption by unrelated devices during critical processes; for example,
during a tape backup session.

R_A_TOV

Resource Allocation Time-out Value. The maximum time a frame can be delayed in the fabric and
still be delivered.

See also E_D_TOV, RR_TOV.

R_RDY

Receiver ready. A primitive signal indicating that the port is ready to receive a frame.

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RAID

Redundant Array of Independent Disks. A collection of disk drives that appear as a single volume
to the server and are fault tolerant through mirroring or parity checking.

See also JBOD.

Remote Fabric

A fabric that spans across WANs by using protocol translation (a process also known as tunneling)
such as Fibre Channel over ATM or Fibre Channel over IP.

Remote Switch

Bridges two switches into a SAN as large as 3000KM or more through protocol encapsulation in
ATM networks via the Computer Network Technologies (CNT) UltraNet Open Systems Gateway.

Request Rate

The rate at which requests arrive at a servicing entity.
See also service rate.

RLS Probing

Read link status of the AL_PAs.

Root Account

A login used for debugging purposes by HP engineers and is not intended for customer use.
See also account level switches.

Route

As applies to a fabric, the communication path between two switches. May also apply to the
specific path taken by an individual frame, from source to destination.

See also FSPF.

Routing

The assignment of frames to specific switch ports, according to frame destination.

RR_TOV

Resource Recovery Time-out Value. The minimum time a target device in a loop waits after a LIP
before logging out a SCSI initiator.

See also E_D_TOV, R_A_TOV.

RS-232 port

A port that conforms to a set of Electrical Industries Association (EIA) standards. Used to connect
DTE and DCE devices for communication between computers, terminals, and modems.

See also DCE port, DTE port.

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RSCN

Registered State Change Notification. A switch function that allows notification of fabric changes
to be sent from the switch to specified nodes.

RX_ID

Responder Exchange Identifier. A 2-byte field in the frame header used by the responder of the
Exchange to identify frames as being part of a particular exchange.

SAN

Storage Area Network. A network of systems and storage devices that communicate using Fibre
Channel protocols.

See also fabric.

SAN Switch

A switch whose main task is to connect nodes into the fabric.
See also core switch.

SCSI

Small Computer Systems Interface. A parallel bus architecture and protocol for transmitting large
data blocks to a distance of 15 - 25 meters.

SDRAM

Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory. The main memory for the switch. Used for
volatile storage during switch operation.

See also flash.

Sequence

A group of related frames transmitted in the same direction between two N_Ports.

Service Rate

The rate at which an entity can service requests.
See also request rate.

SFF

Small Form Factor.

SFP Cable

The latest innovation in high-speed copper cabling for Fibre Channel and InfiniBand. It
incorporates the SFP module directly onto the cable assembly, eliminating the need for a separate
SFP copper module and an HSSDC2 cable assembly.

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SFP

Small form factor pluggable. A transceiver used on 2 Gbps switches that replaces the GBIC. Refers
to the LC-form factor transceiver.

See also GBIC.

SID/DID

Source identifier/Destination identifier. S_ID is a 3-byte field in the frame header that is used to
indicate the address identifier of the N_Port from which the frame was sent.

Single Mode

The fiber optic cabling standard that, when used in conjunction with a 1300 nm laser light, can
transfer data up to 10 km between devices. When used in conjunction with a 1550 nm laser light,
single mode cabling can transfer data over 10 km.

See also multimode, LWL, ELWL, and XLWL.

SI

Sequence Initiative.

SNMP

Simple Network Management Protocol. An internet management protocol that uses either IP for
network-level functions and UDP for transport-level functions, or TCP/IP for both. Can be made
available over other protocols, such as UDP/IP, because it does not rely on the underlying
communication protocols.

See also Community (SNMP).

SNMPv1

The original SNMP, now labeled v1.

SNS

Simple Name Server. A switch service that stores names, addresses, and attributes for up to 15
minutes, and provides them as required to other devices in the fabric. SNS is defined by Fibre
Channel standards and exists at a well-known address. May also be referred to as directory service.

See also FS.

StorageWorks SAN switch

The brand name for the HP family of switches.

Switch Name

The arbitrary name assigned to a switch.

Switch Port

A port on a switch. Switch ports can be E_Ports, F_Ports, or FL_Ports.

Glossary

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Switch

Hardware that routes frames according to Fibre Channel protocol and is controlled by software.

SWL

Short Wavelength. A type of fiber optic cabling that is based on 850-mm lasers and supports

1.0625-Gbps link speeds. May also refer to the type of GBIC or SFP.
See also LWL.

Tachyon

A chip developed by Hewlett-Packard, and used in various devices. This chip has FC-0 through
FC-2 on one chip.

Target

A storage device on a Fibre Channel network.
See also Initiator.

Tenancy

The time from when a port wins arbitration in a loop until the same port returns to the monitoring
state. Also referred to as loop tenancy.

Terminal Serial Port

May also be referred to as the console port. The lower serial port on the CP Card of the
StorageWorks Core switch. This port sends switch information messages and can receive
commands. Can be used to connect the CP Card to a computer terminal. Has an RS-232 connector
wired as a DTE device, and can be connected by serial cable to a DCE device. The connector pins
two and three are swapped so that a straight-through cable can be used to connect to a terminal.
The device name is ttyS0.

See also DCE port, modem serial port.

Throughput

The rate of data flow achieved within a cable, link, or system. Usually measured in bps (bits per
second).

See also bandwidth.

Topology

As applies to Fibre Channel, the configuration of the Fibre Channel network and the resulting
communication paths allowed. There are three possible topologies:

■ Point to point: A direct link between two communication ports.

■ Switched fabric: Multiple N_Ports linked to a switch by F_Ports.

■ Arbitrated loop: Multiple NL_Ports connected in a loop.

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Transceiver

Device that converts one form of signaling to another for transmission and reception; in fiber
optics, it refers to optical and electrical.

Transfer State

The state in which a port can establish circuits with multiple ports without reentering the
arbitration cycle for each circuit. This state can only be accessed by an L_Port in the Open state.

Translative Mode

A mode in which private devices can communicate with public devices across the fabric.

Transmission Character

A 10-bit character encoded according to the rules of the 8B/10B algorithm.

Transmission Word

A group of four transmission characters.
See also data word.

Trap (SNMP)

The message sent by an SNMP agent to inform the SNMP management station of a critical error.
See also SNMP.

Trunking

See ISL Trunking.

Tunneling

A technique for enabling two networks to communicate when the source and destination hosts are
both on the same type of network, but are connected by a different type of network.

U_Port

Universal Port. A switch port that can operate as a G_Port, E_Port, F_Port, or FL_Port. A port is
defined as a U_Port when it is not connected or has not yet assumed a specific function in the
fabric.

UDP

User Datagram Protocol. A protocol that runs on top of IP and provides port multiplexing for
upper-level protocols.

ULP_TOV

Upper-level Time-out Value. The minimum time that a SCSI ULP process waits for SCSI status
before initiating ULP recovery.

Glossary

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ULP

Upper-level Protocol. The protocol that runs on top of Fibre Channel. Typical upper-level protocols
are SCSI, IP, HIPPI, and IPI.

Unicast

The transmission of data from a single source to a single destination.
See also broadcast, multicast.

user account

A login intended for use by the customer to monitor, but not control, switch operation.
See also account level switches.

VC

Virtual circuit. A one-way path between N_Ports that allows fractional bandwidth.

Web Tools

An HP product that runs on Fabric OS and provides a graphical interface to allow monitoring and
management of individual switches or entire fabrics from a standard workstation running a
browser.

Well-known Address

As pertaining to Fibre Channel, a logical address defined by the Fibre Channel standards as
assigned to a specific function, and stored on the switch.

Workstation

A computer used to access and manage the fabric. May also be referred to as a management station
or host.

WWN

World-Wide Name. An identifier that is unique worldwide. Each entity in a fabric has a separate
WWN.

XLWL

Xtra Long Wave Length. Laser light with a periodic length greater than 1300 nm (e.g., 1420 or

1550). XLWL lasers are used to transmit Fibre Channel data over distances greater than 10 Km.
Also known as ELWL.

Xmitted Close State

The state in which an L_Port cannot send messages, but can retransmit messages within the loop.
A port in the XMITTED CLOSE state cannot attempt to arbitrate.

Glossary

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Zone

A set of devices and hosts attached to the same fabric and configured as being in the same zone.
Devices and hosts within the same zone have access permission to others in the zone, but are not
visible to any outside the zone.

See also Zoning.

Zone Alias

A name assigned to a device or group of devices in a zone. Aliases can greatly simplify the zone
administrative process.

See also alias.

Zone Configuration

A specified set of zones. Enabling a configuration enables all zones in that configuration.
See also defined zone configuration, enabled zone configuration.

Zone Member

A port, node, WWN, or alias, which is part of a zone.

Zone Schemes

The level of zoning granularity selected. For example, zoning may be done by switch/port, WWN,
AL_PA, or a mixture.

See also zone configuration.

Zone Set

See zone configuration.

Zoning

An HP product that runs on Fabric OS and allows partitioning of the fabric into logical groupings
of devices. Devices in a zone can only access and be accessed by devices in the same zone.

See also zone.

91ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

index

Index

Index

A

audience 8
authorized reseller, HP 11

C

commands

portcfgspeed 48
portcfgtrunkport 50
switchcfgspeed 51
switchcfgtrunk 52
trunkdebug 53
trunkshow 56
urouteconfig 16

conventions

document 9
equipment symbols 11
text symbols 9

core/edge topology 28

D

debugging 42
designing fabric for trunking 27
deskew values

about 16

displaying 39
disabling trunking 33
document

conventions 9

prerequisites 8

related documentation 8
DWDM 45

E

enabling trunking 33
equipment symbols 11
error messages, interpreting 43

F

fabric

designing for trunking 27
FAQs 45
FSPF 15

G

getting help 11
groups, trunking 16

H

help, obtaining 11
HP

authorized reseller 11

storage website 11

technical support 11

I

in-order delivery 16
installation

overview 22

telnet 23
ISL

link failure 16

Master ISL 16

Subordinate ISL 16

Index

92 ISL Trunking Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide

L

latency 16
link failure

Master ISL 16
Subordinate ISL 16

LWL

support for 14
trunking with SWL 28

M

managing ISL Trunking

supported tools 32

Master

ISL 16
Port 16

P

port

enabling or disabling for trunking 33

specifying speed 36
portcfgspeed command 48
portcfgtrunkport command 50
prerequisites 8
Principal ISL 45

R

related documentation 8
routing 15

S

speed, port, specifying 36
static routes 16
statistics, port 46
switchcfgspeed command 51
switchcfgtrunk command 52
SWL support 14
SWL, trunking with LWL 28

symbols in text 9
symbols on equipment 11

T

technical support, HP 11
telnet commands, installation 23
text symbols 9
traffic patterns

evaluating 29

planning for 27
traffic, routing of 15
troubleshooting

error log 42

trunkdebug command 42
trunkdebug command 53
trunking

debugging 42

disabling 33

displaying information 39

enabling 33

groups, about 16

ISLs 16

ports 16
trunkshow command 56

U

urouteconfig command 16
using

ISL Trunking 31

W

warning

symbols on equipment 11
websites

HP storage 11
WWNs, port 39