Fibre Channel Introduction

91.520

1
 Objectives
‹ High Level Overview
‹ Learning FC Structure and Concepts
‹ Understanding FC Protocol for SCSI

2
 Overview
‹ FC Levels SCSI-3 ULP

FC-4 ULP Mapping

FC-3 Common Services

FC-2 Transport

FC-1 Transmission Protocol

FC-0 Physical Media

Loop
3
 Overview (cont)
‹ SCSI-3 Command Set Vs SCSI-2
‹ Serial FC Transport Vs Parallel SCSI
‹ FC Link Services
‹ Arbitrated Loop Primitives
– Loop Initialization
– Arbitrate
– Open
– Close

4
 Overview (cont)
‹ Fibre or Copper Links (GLMs)
– 133, 266, 531, 1062 and 2124 Megabaud

Tx
GLM
Rx

5
 Overview (cont)
‹ Topologies
– N_Port
– F_Port
– NL_Port
NL_Port NL_Port
– FL_Port

N_Port N_Port NL_Port NL_Port

Point-To-Point Arbitrated Loop

6
 Overview (cont)
‹ Topologies (cont)

N_Port F_Port F_Port N_Port

N_Port F_Port FL_Port NL_Port

Fabric
7
 FC Building Blocks
‹ Transmission Character
‹ Ordered Set
‹ Frame

Header Data Field CRC

(24) (0 to 2112) (4)

SOF Optional EOF

Payload
(4) Headers (4)

8
 FC Building Blocks (cont)
‹ Frame (cont)
– Frame Header Information
» Routing Control » Data Field Control
» Destination ID » Sequence Count
» Source ID » Originator ID
» Type » Responder ID
» Framing Control » Parameter
» Sequence ID

9
 FC Building Blocks (cont)
‹ Frame (cont)
– Frame Types
» FC-4 Device Data » Video Data
» Extended Link Data » Basic Link Data
» FC-4 Link Data » Link Control
‹ Sequence
‹ Exchange

Exchange
Sequence Sequence Sequence
Frame Frame Frame Frame Frame Frame

10
 FC-2 Transport Functions
‹ Flow Control
– Buffer-to-Buffer Credit
» Link Level
– End-to-End Credit
» Transport Level
– ULP Level
‹ Communication Models
– Full Duplex
– Half Duplex

11
 FC-2 Transport Functions (cont)
‹ Classes of Service
– Class 1
» Supports EE Credit Flow Control
» No BB Credit Flow Control after first frame
» In Order Delivery Guaranteed
» Guaranteed Max. Bandwidth Between Two Nodes

12
 FC-2 Transport Functions (cont)
‹ Classes of Service (cont)
– Class 2
» Referred to as Packet Switched in the Fabric Model
» Supports EE Credit Flow Control
» Supports BB Credit Flow Control
» In Order Delivery Not Guaranteed
» Allows for Better Use of Fabric Link Bandwidth

13
 FC-2 Transport Functions (cont)
‹ Classes of Service (cont)
– Class 3
» No EE Credit Flow Control
» Supports BB Credit Flow Control
» Requires ULP Level Flow Control
» In Order Delivery Not Guaranteed
» Allows for Better Use of Fabric Link Bandwidth
» Added Performance Benefit of No ACKs
– Intermix
» Unused Class 1 Bandwidth Used for Class 2 and 3

14
 FC-2 Transport Functions (cont)
‹ Block Management
‹ Data Reassembly
‹ Link Services
– Basic Link Services
» ABTS
– Extended Link Services
» Login, Process Login, Discovery, ...

15
 FC Protocol for SCSI
‹ Defines ULP Mapping to Send SCSI Information
‹ Defines Data Information Units
– FCP_CMND (unsolicited command)
– FCP_XFER_RDY (data descriptor)
– FCP_DATA (solicited data)
– FCP_RSP (command status)
‹ Equates a SCSI IO Operation to an Exchange
‹ Equates the Associated SCSI Phases to Sequences

16
 FC Protocol for SCSI (cont)

ARB
FCP_CMND

FCP_XFER_RDY

SCSI
ULP
FC
Transport
NL_Port
Loop NL_Port FC
Transport
SCSI
ULP
FCP_DATA

FCP_RSP

Initiator CLS OPN Target

Originator Responder
SCSI Write Operation
17
 FC Exception handling
‹ ULP Level
– Task and Loop Management
‹ Transport Level
– Sequence and Link Service Management
‹ Link Level
– Link Management

18
 FC Committees
‹ ANSI x3T10: SCSI specifications
‹ ANSI x3T11: FC Specifications
‹ FCSI: Profiles
‹ FCA: Profiles
‹ Ad Hoc: Profiles

19
 FC References
‹ FC Physical and Signaling Interface (FC-PH)
‹ Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL)
‹ FC-AL Direct Attach SCSI Profile (Private Loop)
‹ Fibre Channel Protocol for SCSI (FCP)
‹ Peer Protocols’s “The Users Guide to Serial SCSI”
‹ Ancot’s “What is Fibre Channel”
‹ Ancot’s “Fibre Channel Volume One: The Basics”

20