Data Center Fabric Manager Professional User Manual - Supporting DCFM 10.3.x (53-1001355-01, October 2009)

234 DCFM Professional User Manual
53-1001355-01
FCIP services licensing
10
FCIP services licensing
Most of the FCIP extension services described in this chapter require the High Performance
Extension over FCIP/FC license
. FICON emulation features require additional licenses. Use the
licenseShow command to verify the needed licenses are present on the hardware used on both
ends the FCIP tunnel.
FCIP Concepts
Fibre Channel over IP (FCIP) is a tunneling protocol that enables you to connect Fibre Channel SANs
over IP-based networks. Fabric OS extension switches and extension blades use FCIP to
encapsulate Fibre Channel frames within IP frames that can be sent over an IP network to a
partner Fabric OS extension switch or extension blade. When the IP packets are received, the Fibre
Channel frames are reconstructed. FCIP uses a TCP transport that guarantees in-order delivery.
The Fibre Channel fabric and all Fibre Channel targets and initiators are unaware of the presence
of the IP network.
Because an FCIP tunnel uses an existing IP network, configuring and managing an FCIP tunnel
requires knowledge of general IP networking concepts, and specific knowledge about the IP
network that will be used for the tunnel. Because the IP network may be used to transport data
over very long distances, and because the IP network is not designed exclusively for large data
transfers, latency is an issue. Features such as data compression, trunking, Adaptive Rate Limiting
(ARL), and Open Systems Tape Pipelining (OSTP) can reduce latency, and help manage tunnel
bandwidth more effectively.
IP network considerations
Because FCIP uses TCP connections over an existing IP network, consult with the IP network
administrator to be sure that the network hardware and software equipment operating in the data
path can support those connections. Routers and firewalls that are in the data path need to be
configured to pass layer 3 protocols 0800 (IP), 0806 (ARP), and 0001 (ICMP). Also, process layer
ports for FTP (ports 20 and 21) Telnet (port 23), and SNMP (ports 161 and 162) should be
configured on the management IP network to enable support personnel to access and transmit
troubleshooting information.