RFC 2837 (rfc2837) - Page 3 of 48

Definitions of Managed Objects for the Fabric Element in Fibre Channel Standard

RFC 2837                 FC Fabric Element MIB                  May 2000


   Managed objects are accessed via a virtual information store, termed
   the Management Information Base or MIB.  Objects in the MIB are
   defined using the mechanisms defined in the SMI.

   This memo specifies a MIB module that is compliant to the SMIv2. A
   MIB conforming to the SMIv1 can be produced through the appropriate
   translations. The resulting translated MIB must be semantically
   equivalent, except where objects or events are omitted because no
   translation is possible (use of Counter64). Some machine readable
   information in SMIv2 will be converted into textual descriptions in
   SMIv1 during the translation process. However, this loss of machine
   readable information is not considered to change the semantics of the
   MIB.

2. Overview

   A Fibre Channel Fabric is an entity which interconnects Node Ports
   (N_Ports) or Node Loop Ports (NL_Ports).  It provides transport and
   routing functions.  In essence, a Fabric is a network of N_Ports
   and/or NL_Ports to communicate with one another.  A Fabric is
   composed of one or more Fabric Element that are interconnected via
   Inter-element Links (IEL).  A Fabric Element is the smallest unit of
   a Fabric that meets the definition of a Fabric.  It must consist of
   at least three external ports to connect to either N_Ports, NL_Ports
   or other Fabric Elements.  In general, a Fabric Element port may be
   of one of the following types:

   (1) F_Port, a fabric port to connect to an N_Port ([17], [21], [22]);

   (2)  FL_Port, a fabric port that also supports a FC Arbitrated Loop
       consisting of one or more NL_Ports ([20], [24]).

   (3)  E_Port, an expansion port to connect to another Fabric Element
       ([18], [23]);

   This memo shall define objects related to a Fabric Element, its
   F_Ports and FL_Ports.  Objects related to other types of FC ports
   shall be defined in future.

   For the rest of the document, the term, "FxPort", will be used to
   refer to both F_Port and FL_Port where the distinction is not
   necessary.  The term, "NxPort" will be used to refer to both N_Port
   and NL_Port in the similar fashion.








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