R211x-HP Flexfabric 11900 FCoE Configuration Guide

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Figure 2 Structure of an FC address
A Domain_ID can uniquely identify an FC switch. Different FC switches in the same fabric have different
Domain_IDs.
An FC address can uniquely identify an N_Port on a node. Different N_Ports on the same node have
different FC addresses. FC switches use Domain_IDs to route messages between each other.
The FC protocol standardizes the FC address usage. For more information, see "Appendixes."
Port modes
In a switched fabric, nodes and FC switches communicate through interfaces of different modes.
Figure 3 Port modes
• A node supports the following port modes:
{ N_Port—Directly connects to a fabric.
{ NL_Port—Connects to a fabric through an arbitrated loop.
• An FC switch provides the following port modes:
{ F_Port—Connects to an N_Port or an NP_Port on another FC switch.
{ E_Port—Connects to an E_Port on another FC switch.
{ NP_Port—Connects to an F_Port on another FC switch. For more information about NP_Port,
see "Configuring NPV."
E_
Ports connect FC switches to form a fabric, and F_Ports connect the nodes to FC switches in the
fabric.
Communication flow
FC switches provide data transmission services. Through FC switches, a server sends instructions and
data to disk devices and reads data from disk devices.