Fabric OS Troubleshooting and Diagnostics Guide v6.4.0 (53-1001769-01, June 2010)

Fabric OS Troubleshooting and Diagnostics Guide 109

53-1001769-01

Appendix

Hexadecimal

Hexadecimal, or simply hex, is a numeral system with a base of 16, usually written using unique

symbols 0–9 and A–F, or a–f. Its primary purpose is to represent the binary code that computers

interpret and represent in a format easier for humans to read. It acts as a form of shorthand, in

which one hexadecimal digit stands in place of four binary bits. For example, the decimal numeral

79, whose binary representation is 01001111, is 4F (or 4f) in hexadecimal (4 = 0100, F = 1111).

Hexadecimal numbers can have either an 0x prefix or an h suffix. For example, 0xFFFFFA is the

same address as FFFFFAh. This type of address is called a hex triplet. Fibre Channel uses

hexadecimal notation in hex triplets to specify well-known addresses and port IDs.

Example of hexadecimal triplet conversion

Notice the PID in the nsshow output is in hexadecimal.

Switch:admin> nsshow

{

Type Pid COS PortName NodeName TTL(sec)

N 610600; 2,3;10:00:00:00:c9:29:b3:84;20:00:00:00:c9:29:b3:84; na

FC4s: FCP

NodeSymb: [36] "Emulex LP9002 FV3.90A7 DV5-5.10A10 "

Fabric Port Name: 20:08:00:05:1e:01:23:e0

Permanent Port Name: 10:00:00:00:c9:29:b3:84

Port Index: 6

Share Area: No

Device Shared in Other AD: No

Redirect: No

The Local Name Server has 1 entry }

1. Separate the triplets: 61 06 00

2. Convert each hexadecimal value to a decimal representation:

61 = Domain ID = 97

06 = Area (port number) = 06

00 = Port (AL_PA) = 0 (not used in this instance, but is used in loop, NPIV, and Access Gateway

devices)

Result: hexadecimal triplet 610600 = decimal triplet 97,06,00