Fibre Channel

Maria G. Luna
 Objectives
Define what is Fibre Channel
Standards
Fibre Channel Architecture
Simple example of a Network Connection
Fiber Channel Layers
Summary FC Layers (Picture)
Fibre Channel Topologies
Technology Comparison
Conclusion
Maria G. Luna
 What is Fibre Channel?
A high-speed transmission technology used as a
peripheral channel or network backbone.
It is a 100MB/sec, full-duplex, serial, data
communication technology.
It supports several common transport protocols
like Internet Protocol (IP) and SCSI.
It operates over copper and fiber optic cables at
distances of up to 10 Kilometers.
It is supported by many suppliers like Compaq,
Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Seagate, and Sun
Microsystems.
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 Standards for Fibre Channel

The T11 Committee of NCIT, a U.S. standards-

development organization under the ANSI
(American National Standards Institute) meets 6
times a year to develop Fibre Channel
standards.

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 Current standards:
Some examples of current standards.
Performance from 266 megabits/second to over
4 gigabits/second.
Support for distances of up to 10Km.
High-bandwidth utilization with distance
insensitivity.
Support for multiple cost/performance levels,
from small systems to super computers.
Ability to carry multiple existing interface
command sets, including Internet Protocol (IP),
SCSI, IPI, and audio and video. Maria G. Luna
Fibre Channel Architecture
Fibre Channel transfers digital data
between sources and users of
information.
This digital data represents different
types of information like programs, files,
graphics, videos and sound.
Each having its own structure, protocol,
connectivity, measures of performance
and reliability requirements.
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 Network Connection Example

Node Ports Node Ports

Printer Server Storage

Device

Node Ports Node Ports

Computer/ Computer/
Workstation Workstation
Fabric Ports

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 Network connection (continued):

Network Connections are established between

the node ports (N_Ports), that are in computers,
servers, storage devices, and printers, and the
fabric ports (F_Ports), that are on the periphery
of the Fibre Channel Fabric.
The Fibre Channel Architecture specifies in
detail the link Characteristics and protocol used
between the node ports and the fabric ports.
The Fibre Channel can interconnect more than
16 million node ports in a single address.

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 Fibre Channel Layers
Five layers FC-1, FC-2, FC-3, and FC-4.
Define the physical media, transmission rates,

encoding scheme, framing protocol, flow control,

common services, and the upper level interfaces.
FC-0, FC-1, and FC-2 - define how Fibre
Channel ports interact with other ports.
They are refereed to as the Fibre Channel
Physical levels (PC-PH Levels).
FC-3, and FC-4 - define how Fibre Channel ports
interact with applications in host systems.

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FC-0 : Media and Interfaces
Covers the physical characteristics of the
interface and media, including cables,
connectors, drivers, transmitters, and receivers.

Examples of media :
twisted pair
coaxial
multi mode/single mode fiber
fiber light sources
long wave lasers

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 FC-1, and FC-2:
FC-1: Transmission Protocol
Defines how FC-0 signals are patterned to carry data
and how port-to-port links are initialized.

FC-2: Framing and Signaling Protocol

Defines the rules for signaling and the transfer of data.
Defines various classes of services, some examples:
Class 1: Is a full-duplex dedicated link between 2
ports. (Highest quality of service because it is the
most effective in transferring large amounts of data
at very high speed.
Class 2: Multiplexed connection , where 1 port can
carry different exchanges with many other ports.
Class 3: Multicast and broadcast where theres no
confirmation of receipt.
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FC-3 and FC-4:

FC-3: Common Services

Defines commons services provided by two or
more node ports in a host system. (Ex. Two or
more node ports, sharing a common port address,
which increases the bandwidth available from node
port to fabric ports).
FC-4: Protocol Mappings
Formed by series of profiles defining how to map
legacy protocols to Fibre Channel.
Profiles for protocols like IP, SCSI, for disk drives,
and several others are already defined here.

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 Fibre Channel Layers

FC-4

FC-3

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Source: www.fibrechannel.com/layers/
 Fibre Channel Layers
The previous picture illustrates the relationship
between the media type and the operating range for
each Fibre Channel, which is defined by the FC-0
layer.
For example we see that a Multimode Fiber medium has
a transfer rate of 133Mbps-266Mbps.
And Singlemode Fiber medium has a range of
531Mbps-1.06Gbps.
Whereas a copper medium has a transfer rate
2.12Gbps-4.25Gbps.

Maria G. Luna
Fibre Channel Layers (continued)

We also observe the relationship between FC-0

and FC-1, where FC-1 defines how the signals
are carried by the FC-0 layer.
We also observe that the FC-2 layer defines the
framing protocol, and flow control.
We also observe that FC-3 defines the common
services.
And that FC-4 is the layer defining the protocols like
IP.

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 Fabric Topologies
There are three topologies for Fibre Channel
Fabrics:
Point-to-point
Where two node ports have the same signaling
rate and class of service.
Switched
Where 16 million node ports can be
interconnected.
Loop (Ring)
Organizes up to 127 Fibre Channel ports on a ring,
and distributes the routing functions among them.
It is used more than the switched topology.
It also costs less than switched topology.
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 Technology Comparison
Fibre Channel Gigabit Ethernet ATM
Technology Storage, network, Network
Network
applicatios video, clusters video
Point-to-point loop Point-to-point hub,
Topologies switched
hub, swithced switched
Scability to 2.12 Gbps,
Not defined 1.24Gbps
higher data rates 4.24Gbps
Guaranteed
Yes No No
Delivery
Congestion data
None Yes Yes
loss
Frame size Variable, 0-2KB Variable, 0-1.5KB Fixed, 53B
Flow Control Credit Based Rate Based Rate Based
Copper and
Physical media Copper and Fiber Copper and Fiber
Fiber
Protocols Network, SCSI, Network
Network
Supported Video video
Table 3.3 Technology comparison

Maria G. Luna
Source: www.fibrechannel.com
 Technology Comparison
Clearly from this table we can observe that
Fibre Channel is the best technology:
Because it provides a higher data rate than ATM.
Because it can be employed in more topologies,
when compared to the Ethernet, and ATM.
It is more reliable since the delivery of data is
guaranteed and theres no loss of data.
It has a bigger frame size of up to 2KB when
comparing it to Ethernets 1.5KB, and ATMs 53B
And also because it supports Network, SCSI,
and video protocols, whereas Ethernet only
supports Network, and ATM only supports
Network and Video Protocols.
Maria G. Luna
 Conclusion
Once again Fibre Channel is a high speed peripheral
transmission technology used in networks.
With a transmission rate of 100MB/sec and with a
full-duplex flow of transmission.
It is defined by five layers which are FC-0, FC-1, FC-
2, FC-3, and FC-4, and they define the media,
transmission rates, coding/encoding, framing, flow,
and protocols supported.
And when compared to the Ethernet and ATM
technologies it is the best.
Experts agree that Fibre Channel is the first
technology with the potential to move the data
communications industry into a low-cost-of-
ownership, commodity phase. Maria G. Luna
 References
ComputerSelect
Lee, Edwin. An Introduction to Fibre
Channel. Unix Reviews
Performance Computing (March, 1999).
Computer Desktop Encyclopedia.

Fibre Channel (1999).

Newton's Telecom Dictionary.

Fibre Channel Association (1999).

Black, George. Fibre Alliance to set new

standards. ComputerWeekly (February 11,

1999).
www.fibrechannel.com/layers/.
www.fibrechannel.com/standards/.
www.fibrechannel.com/tech_comparison/. Maria G. Luna