H3C Technologies H3C S12500-X Series Switches - Manual (Page 19)

10
NPV mode
An FC SAN needs a large number of edge switches that are connected directly to nodes. NPV switches
are developed to expand the number of switches in an FC SAN.
Figure 11 NPV network diagram
As shown in Figure 11 , the NPV switch resides between nodes and the core switch on the edge of the
fabric. The core switch is a switch operating in FCF mode. The NPV switch is connected to the nodes
through its F_Ports and to the core switch through its NP_Port. In this manner, the NPV switch forwards
traffic from its connected nodes to the core switch.
The NPV switch appears as an FCF switch to nodes and as a node to the core switch.
For more information about NPV, see "
Configuring NPV ."
Transit mode
FCoE supports FC SANs built on lossless Ethernet networks, and allows Transit switches to be added
between FCF switches and ENodes.
Figure 12 shows a scenario where ENodes are connected to FCF
switches through a Transit switch.
Figure 12 Transit network diagram
Ethernet interfaces on a Transit switch can operate in ENode mode or FCF mode. An Ethernet interface
connected to an ENode must be configured to operate in ENode mode, and an Ethernet interface
connected to an FCF switch must be configured to operate in FCF mode.
When Transit switches are interconnected, you must configure Ethernet interfaces to operate in the
correct mode. As shown in Figure 13 , ENode 2 can register with only FCF switch 2. To register ENode
2 with FCF switch 1, you must swap the operating modes of the Ethernet interfaces that connect the two
Transit switches.
FCF
mode ENode
mode
ENode
mode
FCF switch
Transit switch
Fabric
ENode
FCF switch
FCF
mode