Table 1-2 provides details about the four single-channel XIO option boards.

Figure 1-3 shows the single-channel XIO boards.

Single-channel XIO option boards XT-FC-1PCOP-A and XT-FC-1POPT-A require IRIX version 6.5; version 6.5.4 or later is preferred. (Note that the SGI SAN product requires version 6.5.5, with a specific patch, or later.) Single-channel XIO option boards X9-FC-1POPT-B and XT-FC-1POPT-B require IRIX version 6.5.13 or later.

To determine what version of IRIX your system is running, enter the following at the command prompt:

uname -R

The half-size SGI single-channel Fibre Channel option boards provide a high-performance interface between an SGI host system and the following devices:

These 66-MHz boards support Fibre Channel and have sustained data transfer rates of up to 100 MB/s with half-duplex operation for both the XT-FC-1PCOP-A and XT-FC-1POPT-A boards, and 200 MB/s with half-duplex operation for the X9-FC-1POPT-B and XT-FC-1POPT-B boards.

The connectors on the optical versions of the single-channel XIO boards (XT-FC-1POPT-A, XT-FC-1POPT-B, and X9-FC-1POPT-B) are standard SC and LC connectors.

Figure 1-4 shows pin assignments for the high-speed, style-2, balanced cable connector (copper cabling interface) on the copper version of the single-channel XIO board (XT-FC-1PCOP-A).

Figure 1-3 shows the four LEDs on the lower edge of the single-channel XIO option boards. When illuminated, the LEDs are green. Table 1-3 summarizes LED information.

Table 1-4 lists the dual-channel XIO option boards that SGI supports.

The XT-FC-2P and X9-FC-2P boards have identical functionality and differ only in mechanical aspects appropriate to the platforms for which they are intended, as follows:

Figure 1-5 shows the XT-FC-2P board. Basically, the X9-FC-2P board looks the same, but it does not have the hook actuator.

The X9-FC-2POPT-B and XT-FC-2POPT-B boards have identical functionality. The only differences between the two cards are the supported platforms (see Table 1-4) and that the XT-FC-2POPT-B has a hook actuator at the bottom of the front bulkhead that is used to disengage the board from the XIO bus connector.

Figure 1-6 shows the dual-channel X9-FC-2POPT-B and XT-FC-2POPT-B boards.

The XT-FC-2P and X9-FC-2P boards require IRIX 6.5 or later, or IRIX 6.4.1 with the June 1999 patch set. The XT-FC-2POPT-B and X9-FC-2POPT-B boards require IRIX version 6.5.16 or later.

To determine what version of IRIX your system is running, enter the following at the command prompt:

uname -R

The half-size dual-channel XIO XT-FC-2P and X9-FC-2P boards provide a high-performance interface between an SGI workstation or server with an XIO slot and FC-AL interfaces, which connect to Fibre Channel disk enclosures or the SGI Fibre Channel hub or another hub. (See Chapter 2, “Fibre Channel Basics”, for an explanation of Fibre Channel topology and architecture.)

These dual-channel XIO boards support Fibre Channel Class 3 operations as a loop port (L_Port). The firmware supports Class 3 and FC-AL (arbitrated loop) transfers only. For details on ports and FC-AL, see Chapter 2, “Fibre Channel Basics”.

The dual-channel XIO XT-FC-2POPT-B and X9-FC-2POPT-B boards provide a high-performance interface between SGI host systems and the following devices:

The 133-MHz XT-FC-2POPT-B and X9-FC-2POPT-B boards have a sustained data transfer rate of up to 200 MB/s with half-duplex operation.

The XT-FC-2P and X9-FC-2P boards each have two 9-pin (DB-9) female connectors, labeled Channel 0 and Channel 1. Each channel can control as many as 110 Fibre Channel disks. Figure 1-7 shows pin assignments.

Both a copper and an optical interface are supported. The native interface is copper, as is standard for FC-AL. To use an optical cable, you must attach a media interface adapter, which is described in “Optional Media Interface Adapter (MIA)”.

The two connectors on the XT-FC-2POPT-B and X9-FC-2POPT-B boards are standard LC connectors.

Each connector on the XT-FC-2P and X9-FC-2P boards has a pair of LEDs with these functions:

The XT-FC-2POPT-B and X9-FC-2POPT-B boards have four LEDs that are located on the lower edge of the bulkhead (see Figure 1-6). When illuminated, the LEDs are green. Table 1-5 summarizes LED information.

SGI provides an optional fiber optic media interface adapter (MIA) to enable a connection between the DB-9 connectors of the XT-FC-2P and X9-FC-2P boards and fiber optic cabling. For these connections, SGI supports optical cabling distances of 25, 100, or 300 meters. The MIA is used with 62.5 μm optical cable.

The marketing code for the MIA (X-F-OE-KIT) includes two modules
(part number 9980952), one for each end of an optical cable.

The MIA uses a shortwave laser (CD-ROM laser) with a wavelength of 780 nm. A full-duplex module, it converts photons to electrons in one direction, and converts electrons to photons in the other direction.

An industry-standard duplex SC connection supplies the external fiber optic connection. This connection consists of two parts: the female part is in the MIA and the male part is on the fiber optic cable connector, as indicated in Figure 1-8. This connection is keyed.

Transceivers (SerDes) embedded on each board convert 8-bit parallel user data to 10-bit differential serial signals (8B10) and vice versa. They also provide frame synchronization, word alignment, and clock recovery for incoming serial data.

For incoming serial data, two recovered clocks at 53.125 MHz for odd or even bytes are provided as outputs on two pins, 180 degrees out of phase. Any required equalization to compensate for high-frequency losses for copper cables (by attenuating the lower frequencies to match) is supplied externally to the Fibre Channel option board. Serial data in both directions between the transformer and the external connector is AC-coupled via a capacitor.

If the XT-FC-2P or X9-FC-2P board loses power or the physical Fibre Channel connection is broken, the link to which the board is attached becomes inoperable. High-availability loop configurations require the use of a Fibre Channel hub.