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Configuration Overview
Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop Configuration
On a Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop, each device appears as an Arbitrated Loop
Physical Address (AL_PA). To obtain an AL_PA, two methods can be used:
Soft addressing is the default setting.
Soft Addressing
During soft addressing, the router automatically acquires the first available loop
address, starting from 01 and moving up to EF. The router may participate on the
Fibre Channel loop, as long as there is at least one address available on the loop
connected to the router. Fibre Channel supports up to 126 devices on an Arbitrated
Loop.
Hard Addressing
During hard addressing, the router attempts to acquire the AL_PA value specified
in the configuration settings. If the desired address is not available at loop
initialization time, the router negotiates the next available soft address. This
allows both the loop and the router to continue to operate.
Hard addressing is recommended for Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop
environments where it is important that the Fibre Channel device addresses do not
change. Device address changes can affect the mapping represented by the host
operating system to the application, and have adverse effects. An example is tape
library installation, where the application configuration requires fixed device
identification for proper operation.
Fibre Channel Switched Fabric Configuration
When connected to a Fibre Channel switch, the router is identified to the switch as
a unique device by the factory programmed World Wide Name (WWN).
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Soft addressing
Hard addressing
Network Storage Router M2402 User Guide
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Troubleshooting
