HP StorageWorks Fabric OS 6.3.1c Release Notes (5697-0509 September 2010 - includes all 6.3.1x versions)

The fabric parameter fabric.ops.mode.longdistance is now deprecated and should not be
used.
8-Gb link initialization and fill words
Overview
The Fibre Channel Physical Interfaces (FC-PI) standard defines the requirements for a physical layer.
It considers all aspects of transmit, receive, and cable-plant performance requirements for optical and
electrical links. The FC-PI standard has been modified to support new physical-layer variants that
operate at higher data rates than those specified in FC-PI-2. The standard enables interoperability of
transmitter devices, receiver devices, interconnects, and components from different manufacturers.
New variants include support for a data rate of 800 MB/s. The previous implementation by Brocade
was to use Idles for link initialization and as fill words, which works for 1-Gb, 2-Gb, 4-Gb, and most
8-Gb devices. However, some of the new 8-Gb devices may require that the ARB(FF)/ARB(FF) sequence
have successful link initialization. Brocade has developed an implementation of ARB(FF)/ARB(FF) for
initialization and fill words. The portcfgfillword command, first introduced in Fabric OS 6.1.2,
configures the ARB(FF)/ARB(FF) implementation. See the Fabric OS Command Reference Manual
supporting Fabric OS v6.3.1 for details on the portcfgfillword command.
portcfgfillword behavior summary
• Default mode
The only mode of operation in releases prior to Fabric OS 6.1.2 was the Idle implementation.
Fabric OS 6.2.0a and 6.2.0b defaulted to ARB(FF)/ARB(FF) for 8-Gb devices. With 6.1.2x and
6.2.0d and later, the default reverted to the Idle implementation. The new portCfgFillWord
command was also implemented beginning with these versions, and enables the user to configure
the ARB(FF) configuration.
• Existing product
For products in the field, this change has no effect on current configurations. The mode is currently
0, and during a firmware upgrade, the mode will remain 0 and no devices will be impacted. If
a new device is added to the configuration, and it requires the ARB(FF) sequence, the ports can
be configured at that time.
Loading Fabric OS 6.1.2x or later does not automatically change the mode (with the exception
of 6.2.0a and 6.2.0b, as noted above). In current configurations, the mode must be changed
manually. This does not affect 1-Gb, 2-Gb, or 4-Gb devices. Any mode settings of 1, 2, or 3 have
no effect on these devices; they affect only devices that negotiate or are fixed at 8-Gb speeds.
• Changing the mode after Fabric OS 6.1.2x or later has been installed
If you change the mode after installing Fabric OS 6.1.2x or later, with the exception as noted
above for 6.2.0a and 6.2.0b, the portCfgFillWord command changes the configuration
parameter in accordance with the selected mode, and automatically disables/enables the port
for which the command was invoked. Subsequent link initializations will default to the new mode
setting.
• Other scenarios
The portCfgFillWord command has no effect on 1-Gb, 2-Gb, or 4-Gb devices, but the mode
is persistent. If a device attempts to negotiate or is fixed at 8 Gb, the configured mode will take
effect. The persistent configuration is on a port-by-port basis; that is, if an 8-Gb device is connected
to a 2-Gb or 4-Gb SFP, and that SFP is replaced with an 8-Gb SFP, then the current behavior of
the mode is activated.
HP StorageWorks Fabric OS 6.3.1c Release Notes 37