FW 05.01.00 and SW 07.01.00 HP StorageWorks Directors and Edge Switches Glossary (AA-RU5JA-TE, June 2003)

Glossary
12 Directors and Edge Switches Glossary
fabric login
The process by which node ports (N_Ports) establish their operating parameters. During fabric
login, the presence or absence of a fabric is determined and paths to other N_Ports are mapped.
Specific operating characteristics for each port, such as buffer-to-buffer credit (BB_Credit) and
data frame size, are also established.
fabric port
(F_Port) — Physical interface within the fabric that connects to an N_Port through a
point-to-point full duplex connection.
fabric services
The services that implement the various Fibre Channel protocol services, which are described in
the standards. These services include the fabric controller (login server), name server, and
management server.
failover
Automatic and nondisruptive transition of functions from an active FRU that has failed to a
backup FRU.
FAN
See fabric address notification.
FCC-IOC
See Fibre Channel input/output controller.
feature key
A unique key that allows additional product features to be enabled. This key is entered into the
Configure Feature Key dialog box in the Product Manager application to activate optional
hardware and software features. Upon purchasing a new feature, customers will receive the
associated feature key.
fiber
Physical media types supported by the Fibre Channel specification, such as optical fiber, copper
twisted pair, and coaxial cable.
Fibre Channel
Integrated set of standards recognized by the American national Standards Institute (ANSI),
which defines specific protocols for flexible information transfer. Logically, a point-to-point
serial data channel, structured for high performance.
Fibre Channel fabric element
Any device linked to a fabric. Information about these devices is recorded in a management
information base (MIB), which can be accessed by fabric management software.
Fibre Channel input/output controller
(FCC-IOC) — A device that controls the embedded Fibre Channel port and configures the
port’s ASICs.