Fabric OS Administrator's Guide v7.0.0 (53-1002148-02, June 2011)

12 Fabric OS Administrator’s Guide

53-1002148-02

Device login

• F_Port — A fabric port is assigned to fabric-capable devices, such as SAN storage devices.

• EX_Port — A type of E_Port that connects a Fibre Channel router to an edge fabric. From the

point of view of a switch in an edge fabric, an EX_Port appears as a normal E_Port. It follows

applicable Fibre Channel standards as other E_Ports. However, the router terminates EX_Ports

rather than allowing different fabrics to merge as would happen on a switch with regular

E_Ports.

• Mirror Port — A mirror port is a configured switch port that connects to a port to mirror a

specific source port and destination port traffic passing though any switch port. This is only

supported between F_Ports.

• VE_Port — A virtual E_Port is a gigabit Ethernet switch port configured for an FCIP tunnel.

However, with a VEX_Port at the other end, it does not propagate fabric services or routing

topology information from one edge fabric to another.

• VEX_Port — A virtual EX_Port connects a Fibre Channel router to an edge fabric. From the point

of view of a switch in an edge fabric, a VEX_Port appears as a normal VE_Port. It follows the

same Fibre Channel protocol as other VE_Ports. However, the router terminates VEX_Ports

rather than allowing different fabrics to merge as would happen on a switch with regular

VE_Ports.

The Fibre Channel protocol (FCP) auto discovery process enables private storage devices that

accept the process login (PRLI) to communicate in a fabric.

If device probing is enabled, the embedded performs a PLOGI and attempts a PRLI into the device

to retrieve information to enter into the Name Server. This enables private devices that do not

perform a FLOGI, but accept a PRLI, to be entered in the Name Server and receive full fabric

access.

A fabric-capable device registers its information with the Name Server during a FLOGI. These

devices typically register information with the Name Server before querying for a device list. The

embedded port still performs a PLOGI and attempts a PRLI with these devices.

If a port decides to end the current session, it initiates a logout. A logout concludes the session and

terminates any work in progress associated with that session.

To display the contents of a switch’s Name Server, use the nsShow or nsAllShow command. For

more information about these commands, refer to the Fabric OS Command Reference.

RSCN causes

An Registered State Change Notification (RSCN) is a notification frame that is sent to devices that

are zoned together and are registered to receive a State Change Notification (SCN). The RSCN is

responsible for notifying all devices of fabric changes. The following general list of actions can

cause an RSCN to be sent through your fabric:

• A new device has been added to the fabric.

• An existing device has been removed from the fabric.

• A zone has changed.

• A switch name has changed or an IP address has changed.

• Nodes leaving or joining the fabric, such as zoning or powering on or shutting down a device, or

zoning changes.

NOTE

Fabric reconfigurations with no domain change do not cause an RSCN.