HP 4400 Release Note page 5

Supersedes
Fabric OS 6.2.2d, released October 2010
New feature descriptions
This section describes new features introduced in Fabric OS 6.2.0a and carried forward with
Fabric OS 6.2.2e.
Virtual Fabrics
VF is supported on the HP StorageWorks DC SAN Backbone Director, DC04 SAN Director,
HP StorageWorks 8/80 SAN Switch, and HP StorageWorks 8/40 SAN Switch. When
enabled, VF allows the user to divide a single physical chassis or switch into multiple logical
switches by assigning individual ports to a logical switch. Each logical switch is managed as
a completely independent layer 2 FC switch, and can be deployed in independent fabrics
known as logical fabrics.
VF allows the user to create a special logical switch known as the base switch, which is used
for connectivity to other base switches and also as a backbone fabric for FCR. Individual
logical fabrics can utilize this shared base fabric for connectivity to other switches, providing
efficient use of resources by sharing common ISL and ICL connections among multiple logical
fabrics.
VF is part of the base Fabric OS and does not require a license. VF is fully compatible with
legacy Brocade products, as well as M-series switches and directors.
FCR and FCIP enhancements
FCIP (SCSI) Read Tape Pipelining anticipates host read operations and buffers data to reduce
latency from the FCIP WAN.
LSAN Tagging provides special behavior for designated LSAN zones by using either a new
speed tag or enforce tag. The enforce tag allows individual FCRs to be configured only to
import devices in specific LSAN zones, increasing scalability. The speed tag allows designated
targets to remain imported, allowing sensitive hosts to discover targets much faster. This is
useful when performing boot over LSAN operations
SOTCP enhancements improve network congestion management in Slow Start Mode and
helps prevent host I/O timeouts.
Support for Pathinfo over MetaSAN. The Pathinfo command has been enhanced to
provide path information across routed fabrics, which is especially useful when troubleshooting
connectivity problems across routed fabrics.
FSPF cost in the FCR backbone fabric uses the most efficient route to reach a destination fabric,
preventing the use of an FCIP link when an ISL is available.
In-band management link over FCIP connections for the 400 MP Router allows a management
station to communicate with a remote 400 MP Router through the GE ports. This allows a
single management station located on the WAN side of the 400 MP Router to communicate
with the management interface on the CP for management tasks such as firmware downloads,
SNMP polling, SNMP traps, troubleshooting, and configuration.
Enhanced native connectivity with McDATA products
Fabric OS 6.2 and M-EOS 9.9 now support Frame Redirection in McDATA Open Fabric
Mode (interopmode 3) fabrics. Frame Redirection zones must be created and activated from
Fabric OS platforms.
Fabric OS platforms now support EX_Port connections to McDATA Open Fabric Mode Mi10Ks
using the 239 Domain ID (DID) setting.
New feature descriptions 5