This document discusses Fibre Channel storage area networks (SANs). It covers SAN components like host bus adapters, storage arrays, switches, and cabling. Fibre Channel SAN connectivity options include point-to-point, arbitrated loop, and switched fabric. The document also examines Fibre Channel addressing, protocols, and data organization. Key topics covered include Fibre Channel protocol stack, world wide names, frame structure, and SAN management software.

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EMC Proven Professional
The #1 Certification Program in the information storage
and management industry
Storage Area Network
Chapter 6
Section 2 : Storage Networking Technologies and Virtualization

2. © 2009 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Chapter Objectives
Upon completion of this chapter, you will be able to:
o Describe SAN and its benefits
o Discuss components of SAN
o Describe connectivity options of SAN
o Describe FC protocol stack and FC addressing
o List common FC topologies

3. © 2009 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Lesson - Fibre Channel SAN
Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:
o Define Storage Area Network and its benefits
o Define Fibre Channel
o List the component of SAN
o Describe three FC interconnectivity options
o List different FC port types

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Business Needs and Technology Challenges
o Just-in-time information to business users
o Integration of information infrastructure with business
processes
o Flexible and resilient storage architecture
o DAS is inefficient to meet these challenges
o Storage Networking emerged as a solution
o FC SAN
o NAS
o IP SAN

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What is a SAN ?
o Dedicated high speed network of
servers and shared storage devices
o Provide block level data access
o Resource Consolidation
o Centralized storage and management
o Scalability
o Theoretical limit: Appx. 15 million devices
o Secure Access
Storage ArrayStorage Array
Servers
FC SAN
Additional Task
Research on Bladed Switch
Technology

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Understanding Fibre Channel
o Fibre Channel is a high-speed network technology that uses:
o Optical fiber cables (for front end connectivity)
o Serial copper cables (for back end connectivity)
o Latest FC implementations support 8Gb/s
Users and
Application
Clients
Storage and
Application
Data
Servers and
Applications
FC SANIP
network
o Servers are attached to 2 distinct networks

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FC SAN Evolution
SAN Islands
FC Arbitrated Loop
Storage Array
Interconnected SANs
FC Switched Fabric
Enterprise SANs
FC Switched Fabric
Fibre Channel SAN Evolution
Server
FC Switch
FC Switch
FC Switch
FC Switch
FC Switch
Servers
Storage Arrays
FC Switch
FC Switch
FC Hub
FC Hub
Servers
Storage Arrays

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Components of SAN: Node ports
o Examples of nodes
o Hosts, storage and tape library
o Ports are available on:
o HBA in host
o Front-end adapters in storage
o Each port has transmit (Tx) link and
receive (Rx) link
o HBAs perform low-level interface
functions automatically to minimize
impact on host performance
Link
Port 0 Rx
Tx
Node
Port 0
Port 1
Port n

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Components of SAN: Cabling
o SAN implementation uses:
o Copper cables for short distance
o Optical fiber cables for long distance
o Two types of optical cables
o Single-mode
o Can carry single beams of light
o Distance up to 10 KM
o Multi-mode
o Can carry multiple beams of light
simultaneously
o Distance up to 500 meters

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Components of SAN: Cabling (Connectors)
Node Connectors:
o SC Duplex Connectors
o LC Duplex Connectors
Patch panel Connectors
o ST Simplex Connectors
ST Connector
LC Connector
SC Connector

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Components of SAN: Interconnecting devices
o Basis for SAN communication
o Hubs
o Switches and
o Directors
FC HUB FC Switch
Director

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Components of SAN: Storage array
o Provides storage consolidation and
centralization
o Features of an array
o High Availability/Redundancy
o Performance
o Business Continuity
o Multiple host connect
Servers
Arrays
FC SANHBA
HBA
HBA

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Components of SAN: SAN management software
o A suite of tools used in a SAN to
manage the interface between host
and storage arrays
o Provides integrated management of
SAN environment
o Web based GUI or CLI

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SAN Interconnectivity Options: Point to Point
Point to point (Pt-to-Pt)
o Direct connection between devices
o Limited connectivity
Servers
Storage Array

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SAN Interconnectivity Options: FC-AL
o Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL)
o Devices must arbitrate to gain control
o Devices are connected via hubs
o Supports up to 127 devices
Servers
Storage Array
FC Hub

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FC-AL Transmission
Transmit
Transmit
Receive
Receive
Receive
Transmit
Receive
Transmit
Byp
Byp
Byp
Byp
Hub_Pt Hub_Pt
Hub_Pt Hub_Pt
Node A
Node B Node C
Node D
Byp
Byp
NL_Port #4
HBA
NL_Port #4
Array Port
NL_Port
#1
HBA
NL_Port
#1
HBA
NL_Port
#3
FA
NL_Port
#3
HBA
NL_Port
#2
HBA
NL_Port
#2
HBA
Byp
Byp

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SAN Interconnectivity Options: FC-SW
o Fabric connect (FC-SW)
o Dedicated bandwidth between devices
o Support up to 15 million devices
o Higher availability than hubs
Servers
Storage Array

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Port
FC-SW Transmission
Transmit
Transmit
Receive
Receive
Receive
Transmit
Receive
Transmit
NL_Port
#1
HBA
NL_Port
#4
HBA
NL_Port
#2
HBA
N_Port #1
HBA
Port
N_Port #4
HBA
N_Port #2
Storage
Port
Port
Port
Node A
Node B Node C
Node D
N_Port #3
Storage Port

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Port Types
Host
N-Port
FC Switch
F-Port
Tape Library
Host
Host
FC Hub
FL-Port
NL-Port
NL-Port
NL-Port
FC Switch
Storage Array
N-Port
F-PortE-Port E-Port
Storage Array
N-Port
F-Port
?
? ?
?
? ?
?
?
? ?
?
?

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Inter Switch Links (ISL)
o ISL connects two or more FC switches to each other using E-
Ports
o ISLs are used to transfer host-to-storage data as well as the
fabric management traffic from one switch to another
o ISL is also one of the scaling mechanisms in SAN connectivity
Multimode Fiber
1Gb=500m 2Gb=300m
Single-mode Fiber
up to10 km
FC Switch
FC SwitchFC Switch
FC Switch

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Login Types in a Switched Network
Extended Link Services that are defined in the standards:
o FLOGI - Fabric login
o Between N_Port to F_Port
o PLOGI - Port login
o Between N_Port to N_Port
o N_Port establishes a session with another N_Port
o PRLI - Process login
o Between N_Port to N_Port
o To share information about the upper layer protocol type in use
o And recognizing device as the SCSI initiator, or target

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Lesson Summary
Key topics covered in this lesson:
o FC SAN and its components
o SAN Interconnectivity Options
o Port types and inter switch links
Additional Task
Research on working of
FC Hub & Switch
Additional Task
Research on concept of channel &
network Technology

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Lesson: Fibre Channel Architecture
Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:
o Describe layers of FC
o Describe FC protocol stack
o Discuss FC addressing
o Define WWN addressing
o Discuss structure and organization of FC Data
Additional Task
Research on Flow Control & Class
of FC Services

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FC Architecture Overview
o FC uses channel technology
o Provide high performance with low protocol overheads
o FCP is SCSI-3 over FC network
o Sustained transmission bandwidth over long distances
o Provides speeds up to 8 Gb/s (8 GFC)
o FCP has five layers:
o FC-4
o FC-2
o FC-1
o FC-0
*FC-3 is not yet implemented 1 Gb/s 2 Gb/s 4 Gb/s 8 Gb/s
FC-4
FC-2
FC-1
FC-0
Application
SCSI HIPPI ESCON ATM IP
Framing/Flow Control
Encode/Decode

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Fibre Channel Protocol Stack
FC layer Function SAN relevant features specified by FC layer
FC-4 Mapping
interface
Mapping upper layer protocol (e.g. SCSI-3 to FC
transport
FC-3 Common servicesNot implemented
FC-2 Routing, flow
control
Frame structure, ports, FC addressing, buffer
credits
FC-1 Encode/decode 8b/10b encoding, bit and frame synchronization
FC-0 Physical layer Media, cables, connector

26. © 2009 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Fibre Channel Addressing
o FC Address is assigned during Fabric Login
o Used to communicate between nodes within SAN
o Similar in functionality to an IP address on NICs
o Address Format:
o 24 bit address, dynamically assigned
o Contents of the three bytes depend on the type of N-Port
o For an N_Port or a public NL_Port:
o switch maintains mapping of WWN to FC-Address via the Name Server

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World Wide Names
o Unique 64 bit identifier
o Static to the port
o Used to physically identify ports or nodes within SAN
o Similar to NIC’s MAC address
World Wide Name - Array
5
0101
0
0000
0
0000
6
0110
0
0000
1
0001
6
0110
0
0000
0
0000
0
0000
6
0110
0
0000
0
0000
1
0001
B
1011
2
0010
Company ID
24 bits
Port Model Seed
32 bits
World Wide Name - HBA
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 c 9 2 0 d c 4 0
Reserved
12 bits
Company ID
24 bits
Company Specific
24 bits

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Structure and Organization of FC Data
o FC data is organized as:
o Exchange operations
o Enables two N_ports to identify and
manage a set of information units
o Maps to sequence
o Sequence
o Contiguous set of frames sent from one
port to another
o Frames
o Fundamental unit of data transfer
o Each frame can contain up to 2112 bytes
of payload
SOF
4 Bytes
Data Field
0 - 2112 Bytes
CRC
4 Bytes
EOF
4 Bytes
Frame Header
24 Bytes

29. © 2009 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Lesson Summary
Key topics covered in this lesson:
o Fibre Channel Protocol Stack
o Fibre Channel Addressing
o Data Organization: Frame, Sequence and Exchange

30. © 2009 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Lesson: FC Topologies and Management
Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:
o Define FC fabric topologies
o Describe different types of zoning

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Fabric Topology: Core-Edge Fabric
o Can be two or three tiers
o Single Core Tier
o One or two Edge Tiers
o In a two tier topology, storage is
usually connected to the Core
o Benefits
o High Availability
o Medium Scalability
o Medium to maximum Connectivity
Single-core topology
Dual-core topology
FC Switch FC Switch FC Switch
Storage Array
DirectorCore Tier
Edge Tier
FC Switch FC Switch FC Switch
Storage Array
DirectorCore Tier
Edge Tier
Director
Server
Server

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Fabric Topology: Mesh
o Can be either partial or full mesh
o All switches are connected to each other
o Host and Storage can be located anywhere in the fabric
o Host and Storage can be localized to a single switch
Server
FC Switches
Partial Mesh
Storage Array
Server
FC Switches
Full Mesh
Storage Array

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Fabric Management: Zoning
Storage Array
FC SAN
Servers
Array port
HBA

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Zoning Components
Zone set
Zone Zone Zone
Member Member Member Member Member Member
Zone sets
(Library)
Zone
(Library)
Member
WWN's

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Types of Zoning
Zone 2
Zone 1
Zone 3
Port 7
Port 9
Port 1
Port 5
WWN 10:00:00:00:C9:20:DC:40
WWN 10:00:00:00:C9:20:DC:56
WWN 10:00:00:00:C9:20:DC:82
WWN 50:06:04:82:E8:91:2B:9E
Zone 1 (WWN Zone) = 10:00:00:00:C9:20:DC:82 ; 50:06:04:82:E8:91:2B:9E
Zone 2 (Port Zone) = 15,5 ; 15,7
Zone 3 (Mixed Zone) = 10:00:00:00:C9:20:DC:56 ; 15,12
Servers
Storage Array
FC Switch
Switch Domain ID = 15
Port 12

36. © 2009 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Lesson Summary
Key topics covered in this lesson:
o FC SAN Topologies
o Core-Edge
o Mesh
o Fabric management by zoning
Additional Task
Research on Fan-in & Fan-out
concepts

37. © 2009 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Chapter Summary
Key topics covered in this chapter:
o SAN features and benefits
o SAN connectivity options
o Port types and inter switch links
o FC protocol stack and addressing
o FC fabric topologies
o Fabric management by zoning

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