user manual

Fibre Channel and Converged Network Adapters for VMware ESX/ESXi 4.0
User’s Guide
Glossary-6 FC0054607-00 A
This is important to the driver when
selecting the proper method of failover
notification. It can make a difference to the
target device, which might have to take
different actions when receiving retries of
the request from another initiator or on a
different port.
PLOGI
Port login. A port login occurs in a Fibre
Channel SAN when two node ports estab-
lish a connection between each other
(typically a device such as a Fibre Channel
Adapter connecting to a switch).
point-to-point
Also FC-P2P. Two Fibre Channel nodes
directly connected (not in a loop).
port
Access points in a device where a link
attaches. The most common port types
are:
 N_Port—a Fibre Channel port that
supports point-to-point topology.
 NL_Port—a Fibre Channel port that
supports loop topology.
 F_Port—a port in a fabric where an
N_Port can attach.
 FL_Port—a port in a fabric where an
NL_Port can attach.
port instance
The number of the port in the system.
Each adapter may have one or multiple
ports, identified with regard to the adapter
as port 0, port 1 and so forth. to avoid
confusion when dealing with a system
containing numerous ports, each port is
assigned a port instance number when the
system boots up. So Port 0 on an adapter
might have a port instance number of, for
example, 8 if it is the eighth port discov-
ered by the system.
port login
See PLOGI.
reduced instruction set computer
See RISC.
registered state change notification
See RSCN.
RISC
Reduced instruction set computer. A
computer microprocessor that performs
fewer types of computer instructions,
thereby operating at higher speeds.
RSCN
Registered state change notification
(RSCN) is a Fibre Channel fabric notifica-
tion sent to all specified nodes when any
major fabric changes occur. This notifica-
tion allows nodes to immediately gain
knowledge about the fabric and react
accordingly.
SAN
Storage area network. Multiple storage
units (disk drives) and servers connected
by networking topology.
SCSI
Small computer system interface. A
high-speed interface used to connect
devices—such as hard drives, CD drives,
printers, and scanners— to a computer.
The SCSI can connect many devices
using a single controller. Each device is
accessed by an individual identification
number on the SCSI controller bus.
small computer system interface
See SCSI.