HP StorageWorks Fabric OS 5.X Master Glossary (AA-RW7NA-TE, September 2005)

MSRS Multi-protocol SAN Routing Services. An optionally licensed software bundle
available on cer tain HP platforms, such as the HP StorageWorks M ulti-protocol
Router, which includes the Fibre Channel Routing Service, the iSCSI Gateway
Servic e, and the FCIP Tunneling Ser vice.
MTBF Mean time between failures. The average time a component works without
failure. This average is c alculated by dividing the number of failures by the
hours under observation.
multicast The transmission of data from a single source to multiple specified N_Ports (as
opposed to all the po rts on the network).
See also broadcast and unicast.
multimode A fiber optic cabling specification that allows up to 500 meters between devices.
N_Por t Node port. A port on a node that can connect to a Fibre Channel por t or to
another N_Port in a point-to-point connection.
See also NL_Port and Nx_Port.
Name Server See Simple Name Server
NAS Network-attached storage. A disk array connected to a controller that provides
access via a LAN.
NDMP Network Data Management P rotocol. Used for tape backup without using
server resources.
NIC Network interconnect card. A printed circuit board that plugs into the bus of
both the client ma chines and ser vers in a network. Controls the transmission
and reception of data at the data link level. Also called a Network Interface
Card and a network adapter.
NL_Por t Node loop port. A node port that has arbitrated-loop capabil
ities. Used to
connect an equipment por t to the fabric in a loop configuration through an
FL_Port.
See also N_Port, Nx_Port, private NL_P ort,andpublic NL_
Port.
node A Fibre Channel device that contains an N_Port or NL_Port.
node count The number of nodes attached to a fabric.
node nam e Theuniqueidentifier for a node, which is communicated during login a nd port
discovery.
Nonpartic ipating
Mode
A mode in which an L_Por t in a loop is inactive and cannot arbitrate or send
frames but can retransmit received transmissions. This mode is entered if there
are m ore than 127 devices in a loop and an AL_PA cannot be acquired.
See also L_Port and Participating Mod e .
NOS Not op erational. A sequence that is transmitted b
y an FC_Port to indicate that
the FC_Port has detected a link failure or is offline and is waiting for the offline
sequence (OLS) to be rec eived.
NR_Por t A normal E_Port used to connect an MP Router to a backbone fabric.
NS See Simple Name Server.
NSCAM Name Server Cache M anager. Software that updates the Name Server
databases across switches as a background task.
Nx_Por t AnodeportthatcanoperateaseitheranN_PortorNL_Port.
OFC Open fiber control. A method used to enable and disable laser signaling for
higher-intensity laser transceivers.
Fabric OS 5.x master glossary
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