RE: FCIP SOF and EOF Codes

[Vi Chau <vchau@gadzoox.com>]

Srini,

   FCIP is used to connect SAN islands through the IP
network. The connection points of FCIP devices to the
SAN islands are at a type of FC fabric port called
B-port. B-port is specified in the FC-BB document. B ports
send and receive byte encoded SOF and EOF and not the
4-byte ordered sets that are present on the FC links.

Vi


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Srini V.Raman [mailto:sraman@platys.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2000 10:25 AM
> To: ips@ece.cmu.edu
> Subject: FCIP SOF and EOF Codes
> 
> 
> 
> For an FCIP device encapsulating the FC-Frames over TCP/IP 
> ,why should we
> convert the SOF and EOF Codes ? Can't we send them AS IS ?
> 
> This avoids mapping and reverse mapping of all SOF, EOF codes.
> 
> True, We have no way to represent a comma character in the 
> byte-encoded
> format, but the FC-1 Layer will guarentee that a K28.5 will 
> be a BC in the
> byte encoded form.
> 
> For example:
> 
> If an FCIP device receives SOFn2 (K28.5 D21.5 D21.1 D21.1 ), 
> the FC-1 layer
> will have to deliver it as BC_B5_35_35 in byte-encoded form
> (according to table -22) . (As per FCPH , p-g : 67-70)
> 
> Since we are using a Length field for FC-Frame boundaries, 
> the byte encoded
> format will be distinguished as either special or data groups.
> 
> Let us say if we choose to use a chip from vitesse
> http://www.vitesse.com/pdfs/vsc7216.pdf
> 
> We will be dealing with byte encoded formats like the one 
> mentioned in FC-PH
> spec.  Hence why this mapping and reverse mapping ?
> 
> Any Comments ?
> 
> -- srini
> 
> 
>