Chaparral K5312/K7313 - Manual (Page 146)

G- and K-Series User’s Guide
G-2
FC Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL)—FC-AL is one of three FC topologies in which
ports use arbitration to establish a point-to-point circuit. Arbitrated loops allow
multiple ports to be connected serially in a single loop. Up to 126 NL_Ports and 1
FL_Port can be configured in a unidirectional loop. Ports arbitrate for access to the
loop based on their AL_PA. Ports with lower AL_PAs have higher priority than ports
with higher AL_PAs.
FC device—A device that uses FC communications is referred to as an FC device.
FC port—An FC port is the opening at the back of a router that provides a fiber optic
connection between the FC adapter and FC host.
FC protocol for SCSI (FCP)—FCP defines an FC mapping layer (FC-4) that uses
FC-PH services to transmit SCSI command, data, and status information between a
SCSI initiator and SCSI target. FCP enables transmission and receipt of SCSI
commands, data, and status across the FC using standard FC frame and sequence
formats.
Gigabit interface converter (GBIC)—A GBIC, also referred to as a Physical
Link Module, is a physical component that manages functions of the FC-0 layer. This
layer consists of the physical characteristics of the media and interface, including
drivers, transceivers, connectors, and cables. A GBIC attaches to an FC adapter and
connects a router to an FC host.
High voltage differential (HVD)—HVD is a differential SCSI scheme with
terminators that run on 5 volts.
Host bus adapter (HBA)—An HBA is the critical link between a host server or
workstation and a storage subsystem, integrating computing platforms, operating
systems, and I/O protocols to ensure proper interoperability and functionality. The
bus adapter provides direct storage connectivity from the system to data within the
storage subsystem and enables stable, high-speed transmission of information and
files. HBAs manage the controller-specific aspects of handling a storage driver
interface device implemented as a target driver, which supports mass storage
peripheral devices such as disks and tapes. A storage driver interface is used to
implement SCSI and other storage device drivers. An HBA connects to the storage
subsystem through a single PCI slot in the host computer and uses either fiber or
copper media.
Initiator—An initiator is an FC or SCSI device that contains application clients that
originate service requests and task management functions for processing by a target
FC or SCSI device.