-
SAN fabric question…
I’m a bit confused on the concept of what constitutes a fabric. The info I’ve read states that a fabric is one or more SAN switches connected (it didn’t say they had to be connected together).
I’ve also read that a SAN can consist of multiple interconnected fabrics, or that you connect switches to create large SAN fabrics.
So, my questions are as follows:
Can a single switch be called/considered a fabric?
When you connect two or more switches together, is it given a different name, or is it still called a fabric?
Let’s say you have a server with two HBAs, each HBA is connected to a switch (but those switches are not connected together). Would you say you have two fabrics, or a single switch fabric?
Thanks,
Tom
-
5 Replies
-
Tom, not trying to be a smart Alec. Why do you care? What is it you are trying to achieve?
Tim Ward
Small Tree Communications
http://www.small-tree.com -
Tim, I’m just trying to educate myself. I’ve been in networking for 10 years (think TCP/IP, Cisco routers/switches) and giving serious thought to getting into the storage arena.
Maybe this isn’t the right forum. I’m trying to locate a forum where people can post questions like this. If this isn’t the right place, let me know (and if you know of a forum like what I described, please let me know).
Thanks,
Tom
-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switched_fabric
Tim Ward
Small Tree Communications
http://www.small-tree.com -
[Tom Elgin] “Can a single switch be called/considered a fabric?”
As far as Fibre Channel is concerned, a fabric is one or more switches.
[Tom Elgin] “When you connect two or more switches together, is it given a different name, or is it still called a fabric?”
That’s a fabric.
[Tom Elgin] “Let’s say you have a server with two HBAs, each HBA is connected to a switch (but those switches are not connected together). Would you say you have two fabrics, or a single switch fabric?”
That’s one host connected to two fabrics.
Best,
Andy -
That seems to line up with what I’m reading. Thanks for the clarification.
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up