4.5. Fibre Channel Port Types
Fibre Channel defines several port types based on the topology of the SAN and the device on which the port exists. The various different types of ports are summarized in Table 4.2.
To simplify life for SAN administrators, device vendors typically build logic to let the port configure itself. The order in which such configuration is attempted is as follows:
| Port Type | Device on Which It Can Exist | Description | Port Types That Can Connect to This Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| F | Fabric switch | Fabric-capable only. Never a source or destination for data; acts as middleman to allow two devices to communicate. | N |
| FL | Fabric switch | Can connect to loop only. Provides connectivity between a Fibre Channel loop and a fabric-switched ... |
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