2–Planning
Multiple Chassis Fabrics
59265-02 B 2-13
MultiStage Topology
A Multistage topology describes a fabric in which two or more edge switches
connect to one or more core switches. Using 24-port QLogic 5800V Series
switches, the Multistage fabric shown in Figure 2-8 has the following
characteristics:
Each link contributes up to 850MB of bandwidth between chassis.
Competition for this bandwidth is less than that of a cascade topology, but
greater than that of the mesh topology.
Latency between any two ports is no more than two chassis hops.
Seventy-two Fibre Channel SFP ports are available for devices.
Figure 2-8. Multistage Topology
Transparent Routing
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The transparent routing feature provides inter-fabric routing to allow controlled
and limited access between devices on a QLogic 5800V Series switch (local)
fabric and devices on a remote fabric consisting of noncompliant switches made
by other vendors. For a list of switches that are supported in a remote fabric, see
the QLogic 5800V Series Fibre Channel Switch Release Notes. This type of
inter-fabric connection uses the Fibre Channel industry N-Port ID Virtualization
(NPIV), and makes local and remote devices accessible to each other while
maintaining the local and remote fabrics as separate fabrics.
Edge Switch
Edge Switch Edge Switch
Core Switch
