Fibre channel ports

Types of ports are defined by Fibre Channel:

N_port is a port on the node (e.g. host or storage device) used with both FC-P2P or FC-SW topologies. Also known as Node port. NL_port is a port on the node used with an FC-AL topology. Also known as Node Loop port. F_port is a port on the switch that connects to a node point-to-point (i.e. connects to an N_port). Also known as Fabric port. An F_port is not loop capable. FL_port is a port on the switch that connects to a FC-AL loop (i.e. to NL_ports). Also known as Fabric Loop port. E_port is the connection between two fibre channel switches. Also known as an Expansion port. When E_ports between two switches form a link, that link is referred to as an inter-switch link (ISL). EX_port is the connection between a fibre channel router and a fibre channel switch. On the side of the switch it looks like a normal E_port, but on the side of the router it is a EX_port.

TE_port * a Cisco addition to Fibre Channel, now adopted as a standard. It is an extended ISL or EISL. The TE_port provides not only standard E_port functions but allows for routing of multiple VSANs (Virtual SANs). This is accomplished by modifying the standard Fibre Channel frame (vsan tagging) upon ingress/egress of the VSAN environment. Also known as Trunking E_port. VE_Port an INCITS T11 addition, FCIP interconnected E-Port/ISL, i.e. fabrics will merge. VEX_Port a INCITS T11 addition, is a FCIP interconnected EX-Port, routing needed via lsan zoning to connect initiator to a target. general (catch-all) types Auto or auto-sensing port found in Cisco switches, can automatically become an E_, TE_, F_, or FL_port as needed. Fx_port a generic port that can become a F_port (when connected to a N_port) or a FL_port (when connected to a NL_port). Found only on Cisco devices where oversubscription is a factor. G_port or generic port on a switch can operate as an E_port or F_port. Found on Brocade and McData switches. L_port is the loose term used for any arbitrated loop port, NL_port or FL_port. Also known as Loop port. U_port is the loose term used for any arbitrated port. Also known as Universal port. Found only on Brocade switches.....

E_Port F_port FL_Port N_Port NL_Port U_Port

E_Port

An E_Port is an expansion port. A port is designated an E_Port when it is used as an interswitch expansion port to connect to the E_Port of another switch, to build a larger switched fabric. These ports are found in Fibre Channel switched fabrics and are used to interconnect the individual switch or routing elements. They are not the source or destination of IUs, but instead function like the F_Ports and FL_Ports to relay the IUs from one switch or routing elements to another. E_Ports can only attach to other E_Ports. An Isolated E_Port is a port that is online but not operational between switches due to overlapping domain ID or nonidentical parameters.

F_Port

An F_Port is a fabric port that is not loop capable. Used to connect an N_Port to a switch. These ports are found in Fibre Channel switched fabrics. They are not the source or destination of IUs, but instead function only as a middle-man to relay the IUs from the sender to the receiver. F_Ports can only be attached to N_Ports.

FL_Port

An FL_Port is a fabric port that is loop capable. Used to connect NL_Ports to the switch in a loop configuration. These ports are just like the F_Ports described above, except that they connect to an FC-AL topology. FL_Ports can only attach to NL_Ports.

FL_Port

An FL_Port is a fabric port that is loop capable. Used to connect NL_Ports to the switch in a loop configuration. These ports are just like the F_Ports described above, except that they connect to an FC-AL topology. FL_Ports can only attach to NL_Ports.

G_Port

A G_Port is a generic port that can operate as either an E_Port or an F_Port. A port is defined as a G_Port when it is not yet connected or has not yet assumed a specific function in the fabric.

L_Port

An L_Port is a loop capable fabric port or node. This is a basic port in a Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL) topology. If an N_Port is operating on a loop it is referred to as an NL_Port. If a fabric port is on a loop it is known as an FL_Port. To draw the distinction, throughout this book we will always qualify L_Ports as either NL_Ports or FL_Ports.

N_Port N_Port is a node port that is not loop capable. Used to connect an equipment port to the fabric. These ports are found in Fibre Channel nodes, which are defined to be the source or destination of information units (IU). I/O devices and host systems interconnected in point-to-point or switched topologies use N_Ports for their connection. N_Ports can only attach to other N_Ports or to F_Ports. NL_Port An NL_Port is a node port that is loop capable. Used to connect an equipment port to the fabric in a loop configuration through an FL_Port. These ports are just like the N_Port described above, except that they connect to a Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL) topology. NL_Ports can only attach to other NL_Ports or to FL_Ports. U_Port U_Port is a universal port. A generic switch port that can operate as either an E_Port, F_Port, or FL_Port. A port is defined as a U_Port when it is not connected or has not yet assumed a specific function in the fabric. In addition to these Fibre Channel port types, the following port types are only used in the INRANGE products.

T_Port (INRANGE specific) A T_Port is an ISL port more commonly known as an E_Port. TL_Port (INRANGE specific) A TL_Port is a private to public bridging of switches or directors. In addition to these Fibre Channel port types, the following port type is used only in the McDATA products: B_Port (McDATA specific) A B_Port is a bridge port that provides fabric connectivity by attaching to the E_Port of a director. This B_Port connection forms an ISL through which a fabric device can communicate with a public loop device.