Fibre Channel Storage Area Networking

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Fibre Channel Storage Area Networking

• Objectives
• Understand the SAN concept
• Fibre Channel Architectural Layers
• Explain Fibre Channel Topologies
• Discuss the benefits, Components and Features of
  FC topologies

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FC and SAN Functional Definitions

• Fibre Channel (FC) A data transport standard
  which provides for high speed delivery of data in
  a flexible network-like architecture with
  channel-like speed and reliability
• Storage Area Networking (SAN) An arrangement of
  storage devices and servers, connected in a loop
  or fabric, using the fibre channel protocol

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Storage Area Networking
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SAN vs NAS
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What is Fibre Channel

• Fibre Channel is the key enabling technology
  behind SANs
• It is a high speed, high bandwidth multi-layered
  protocol for moving data across a SAN
• It can transport most protocols
• It is designed to overcome the limitations of
  existing architectures

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Why Fibre and Not Fiber?

• Originally developed to support Fiber Optic
  cabling
• Copper support was added
• Used to reduce the association to Fiber Optics
• Name recognition for the Fibre Channel technology

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Fibre Channel Topologies
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Fibre Channel Fabric
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FC Protocol and Layers
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FC-0 Architectural Level
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FC-0 Hardware

• HBA-Host Bus Adapter
• SFP- Small Form Factor Plug
• Physical interface sub-assembly
• Hot swappable
• GBIC Gigabit Interface Connector
• Physical interface sub-assembly
• Hot swappable
• Media Interface Adapter
• DB9 Copper to Optical converter
• Not as Common

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Mixing Media Types
Different media types can be mixed together GBIC
or SFP are used to customize switch ports to a
particular media type.
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Optical Fiber Connectors
SC and LC Connectors
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Optical Fiber Connectors
ST Connectors
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Multimode Fiber

• Shortwave 850nm (Red) laser e.g. a CD-Rom uses
  this wavelength
•  typically 50100 micrometers
• 500 meters at 1.0625 Gbit/s using 50 micron
• Use SC and LC connectors

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Single Mode Fiber

• Long wave laser 1300n (Infra red)
• 9 Micron wide Lens like fiber
• 10km depending on laser and fiber
• SC and ST connectors

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Fiber Optics Components
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FC Media Safety and Handling

• While current fiber optics ports use low power
  lasers
• Do not look into the port or cable ends.
• Hold it up to something that will catch the light
  as a quick check for a signal or use a cable
  tester
• Fiber optic cable is fairly robust, however
• The cable is not designed to be load bearing
• Tight bends cause signal loss and can physically
  damage the cable
• End connections are very fragile
• Link and cable connectors are susceptible to dust
  and dirt

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Architectural Levels FC-1
N O D E Upper layer Protocols SCSI, IP FC Mapping to ULP Common Node Services
P O R T Exchanges, Sequences and Framing Encoding and Decoding Media, Cables and Connectors
Upper layer Protocols
FC-4
FC-3
FC-2
FC-1
FC-0
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FC-1 Encoding and Decoding

• Each 8 Bit byte is encoded into 10 bits called
  transmission characters
• 10 bit allows for
• Excellent parity checking
• Balanced transmissions equal numbers of 0s and
  1s
• This increases speed and life of components by
  providing for an optimal duty cycle
• This encoded bit stream also allows for the
  detection of the boundaries of the data bits
• Not a Secure encryption
• Transparent
• You will never see it happen unless you use an
  analyzer
• If it isnt working right you will be replacing a
  component or FRU (Field Replaceable Unit)

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Architectural Levels FC-2
N O D E Upper layer Protocols SCSI, IP FC Mapping to ULP Common Node Services
P O R T Exchanges, Sequences and Framing Encoding and Decoding Media, Cables and Connectors
Upper layer Protocols
FC-4
FC-3
FC-2
FC-1
FC-0
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FC-2 Framing Protocol

• Frame is the smallest unit of information
• Frames have headers, data and trailers
• Sequence is a number of frames
• Exchange is a number of sequences

Exchange
Sequence
Sequence
Sequence
Frame
Frame
Frame
Frame
Frame
Frame
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Frame Protocol Structure
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FC-2 Classes of Service

• Different data types have different delivery
  requirements
• Different classes of service address the
  differing delivery requirements

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FC-2 Classes of Service

• Class 1 Acknowledged Connection Service
• Class 1 connection based, a virtual Pipe, 100
  bandwidth.
• Class 2 - Acknowledged Connectionless Service
• Class 2 connectionless, but frames are
  acknowledged.
• Class 3 - Unacknowledged Connectionless Service
• Class 3 Connectionless, unacknowledged Ship and
  pray
• Class 4 Fractional bandwidth Connection
  Oriented Service.
• Class 4 connection based, a virtual circuits
• Class 5 Isochronous Service (Proposed)
• Class 6 Simplex Connection Service
• Class 6 multicast, video broadcast applications

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Architectural Levels FC-3
N O D E Upper layer Protocols SCSI, IP FC Mapping to ULP Common Node Services
P O R T Exchanges, Sequences and Framing Encoding and Decoding Media, Cables and Connectors
Upper layer Protocols
FC-4
FC-3
FC-2
FC-1
FC-0
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Architectural Levels FC-4
N O D E Upper layer Protocols SCSI, IP FC Mapping to ULP Common Node Services
P O R T Exchanges, Sequences and Framing Encoding and Decoding Media, Cables and Connectors
Upper layer Protocols
FC-4
FC-3
FC-2
FC-1
FC-0
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FC-4 Mapping to ULP

• Define how each ULP will map to FC
• Separate one for each ULP
• SCSI-3 FCP (Fibre Channel Protocol)
• FC-4 ensures that products from different vendors
  are inter-operable (Use the standard)

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Architectural Levels ULP
N O D E Upper layer Protocols SCSI, IP FC Mapping to ULP Common Node Services
P O R T Exchanges, Sequences and Framing Encoding and Decoding Media, Cables and Connectors
Upper layer Protocols
FC-4
FC-3
FC-2
FC-1
FC-0
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Support Channels Networks
Channels
Networks
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Upper Level Protocols

• SCSI 2
• SCSI 3

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SAN Building Blocks

• In Fibre Channel terminology, a communicating
  device is a node, this can be a workstation,
  server, disk array, tape drive, etc.
• Nodes are interconnected using three topologies
• Point-to-point
• Arbitrated loop
• Fabric

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Fibre Channel Node
Node
Port
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Point to Point
Node

• Node

N Port
N Port
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World-Wide Name (WWNN)

• Also known as Node-Name
• Protocol independent
• 64-Bit Identifier
• Implemented in much the same way as the IEEE
  48-bit MAC address

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Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL)
NL_ports are N_ports with added loop functions,
they re-transmit packets not addressed to them