HP StorageWorks Fabric OS 6.3.3d Release Notes (5697-0493, May 2010 - includes all 6.3.0x versions)

8-Gb link initialization and fill words

This section describes the portCfgfillWord command that was first introduced in Fabric OS 6.1.2

and 6.2.0d.

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 have problems with the Idle/Idle sequence

at 8 Gb. 8-Gb switches, HBAs, and smaller mid-range 8-Gb storage devices are using the Idle/Idle

sequences without any problems. Some of the new 8-Gb devices 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 configures the

ARB(FF)/ARB(FF) implementation.

portCfgFillWord command

The portCfgFillWord command configures the fill word for a single 8-Gb FC port.

• Syntax: portcfgfillword [slotnumber/]portnumber, mode

• Description: Use this command to configure the fill word for an 8-Gb FC port. (It does not apply

to a non-8-Gb FC port.) This command disables and re-enables the port; the port comes online

with the new fill-word setting. The configuration is stored in nonvolatile memory and is persistent

across switch reboots and power cycles.

• Notes: This configuration cannot be set on VE_Ports or VEX_Ports. Use the portCfgShow command

to display user-configured fill-word settings. The execution of this command is subject to any Ad-

ministrative Domain or VF restrictions.

• Operands: This command has the following operands:

• slotnumber—For blade systems only, specifies the slot number of the port to be configured,

followed by a slash (/).

• portnumber—Specifies the number of the port to be configured, relative to its slot for blade

systems. Use the switchShow command to display a list of valid ports.

• mode—Specifies the fill word for portnumber. This operand is required. Valid values are as

follows:

• 0—IDLE in Link Init and IDLE as fill word (default)

• 1—ARB(FF) in Link Init and ARB(FF) as fill word

• Example: To set the fill word of a port to ARBFF-ARBFF:

switch:admin> portcfgfillword 2/3, 1

See also the portCfgShow command in the Fabric OS Command Reference Manual.

• Behavior:

• Default mode