T10000 - Fibre Channel Topologies Supported by T10000 Tape Drives

Asset ID:	1-71-1002774.1
Update Date:	2011-01-28
Keywords:

Solution Type Technical Instruction Sure

Solution 1002774.1 : T10000 - Fibre Channel Topologies Supported by T10000 Tape Drives

Applies to:

Sun StorageTek SL8500 Modular Library System - Version: Not Applicable and later [Release: N/A and later]
Sun StorageTek T10000 Tape Drive - Version: Not Applicable and later [Release: N/A and later]
All Platforms
Checked for relevance on 28-Jan-2011.

Goal

This document summarizes what Fibre Channel topologies the Oracle/StorageTek[TM] T10000 tape drive support.

Solution

Steps to Follow
Fibre Channel topologies supported by Sun StorageTek[TM] T10000 tape drives:

T10k-2gb FCP (SCSI) protocol

1. N-to-N port connections, i.e. Direct connect, HBA N-port directly connected to T10k N-port.

2. N-to-F port connections, i.e. Switch connected, Switch F-port directly connected to T10k N-port.

3. NL-to-NL port connections, i.e. Private Loop, HBA NL-port to T10k NL-port via Loop port Hub or not.

4. NL-to-FL port connections, i.e. Public Loop, Switch FL-port to T10k NL-port via Loop port Hub or not.

T10k-4gb FCP (SCSI) protocol

1. N-to-N port connections, i.e. Direct connect, HBA N-port directly connected to T10k N-port.

2. N-to-F port connections, i.e. Switch connected, Switch F-port directly connected to T10k N-port. See Note 1.

T10k-2gb FICON protocol

1. N-to-N port connections, i.e. Direct connect, HBA N-port directly connected to T10k N-port.

2. N-to-F port connections, i.e. Switch connected, Switch F-port directly connected to T10k N-port. See Note 2.

T10k-4gb FICON protocol

1. N-to-N port connections, i.e. Direct connect, HBA N-port directly connected to T10k N-port.

2. N-to-F port connections, i.e. Switch connected, Switch F-port directly connected to T10k N-port.

Legend:

NOTE 1 - The T10k-4gb drive utilizes a Qlogic In-line Credit Extender (ICE) chip that gives it the ability to support up to 600 Buffer to Buffer credits to support long distance up to 100km. However it does NOT support Loop mode.

NOTE 2 - The FICON protocol does not support Loop mode, regardless of what the drive hardware supports.

One of the T10k design requirements was the ability to support long distance. The Qlogic ISP protocol chip by itself only has 3 BB credits available, which is only good for about 1km distance support. So the Qlogic In-Line Credit Extender (ICE) chip had to be used to get 600 BB credits and over 100km support.

But there was a trade off involved; due to the additional problems of supporting long distance in loop mode (i.e. additional round trip delays), the Qlogic ICE had to be designed without loop mode. Thus the T10k 4gb drive does not/will not support Loop mode.

The leadville stack (Sun FC driver stack) doesn't support the point to point (N-to-N) topology. Therefore, today, the T10000 FC 4GB tape drive connected to a Solaris[TM] server requires the use of a FCP switch.

T10000, FCP, switch, topology, loop, fabric, point-to-point, tape
Previously Published As 88412

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