Technical data

Brocade SilkWorm 4100 Hardware Reference Manual Glossary-3

Publication Number: 53-0000563-02

backbone

fabric

An optional capability that enables scalable meta-SANs by allowing the networking of multiple FC

routers, which connect to the backbone fabric via EB_Port interfaces.

backup FCS

switch

Relates to the Brocade Secure Fabric OS feature. The backup fabric configuration server serves as a

backup in case the primary FCS switch fails. See also FCS switch, primary FCS switch.

BB fabric A backbone fabric that connects FC Routers. The FC Routers communicate over the backbone fabric

using FCRP (Fibre Channel Router Protocol).

BB_Credit Buffer-to-buffer credit. The number of frames that can be transmitted to a directly connected recipient

or within an arbitrated loop. Determined by the number of receive buffers available. See also buffer-to-

buffer flow control, EE_Credit.

beacon A tool in which all of the port LEDs on a switch are set to flash from one side of the switch to the other,

to enable identification of an individual switch in a large fabric. A switch can be set to beacon by a CLI

command or through Brocade Advanced Web Tools.

beginning

running

disparity

The disparity at the transmitter or receiver when the special character associated with an ordered set is

encoded or decoded. See also disparity.

BER Bit error rate. The rate at which bits are expected to be received in error. Expressed as the ratio of error

bits to total bits transmitted. See also error.

BISR Built-in self-repair.

BIST Built-in self-test.

bit

synchroniza-

tion

The condition in which a receiver is delivering retimed serial data at the required bit error rate.

blind-mate

connector

A two-way connector used in some Brocade SilkWorm switches to provide a connection between the

motherboard and the power supply.

block As it applies to Fibre Channel technology, upper-level application data that is transferred in a single

sequence.

bloom The code name given to the third-generation Brocade Fabric ASIC. This ASIC is used in SilkWorm

switches 3000 series and beyond.

BOFMS Brocade open fabric management services.

boot code Software that initialized the system environment during the early phase of the boot-up process. For

example, boot code might determine the amount of available memory and how to access it.

boot flash Flash (temporary) memory that stores the boot code and boot.

bport Back-end port of the ASIC.