Host Connectivity Options

The SL4000 library supports two types of host connections: FC-SCSI or Ethernet.

• Small computer system interface (SCSI) over a physical Fibre Channel interface
• Ethernet using 10/100/1000 Base-T and CAT 5e/1Gb cable

FC-SCSI Connection

The library can connect to SCSI over the Fibre Channel interface of the library controller.

The library comes standard with two FC ports (1 and 2) on the library controller card. However, by default only port 1 is fully active. Activating port 2 requires the Redundant Control Paths activation file. The library supports simultaneous access using both FC ports. However, the application using the SCSI interface must manage these connections. You must use a multi-path device driver or an application that is aware of the multiple paths.

See the SL4000 SCSI Reference Guide for more information on the SCSI command set, FC operations, topologies, and command implementations.

Note:

The library controller does not ship with SFP modules, you must purchase those separately.

TCP/IP Connection

The library controller provides two separate Ethernet connections (labeled as customer ports) on the library controller for communication with client applications.

• Port 1 provides the primary host connection (standard).
• Port 2 provides the dual connection (known as dual TCP/IP). Activation of this port requires the Redundant Control Paths activation file. Enabling dual Ethernet bonds the two ports into a single interface, requiring only one IP address for the pair of ports on each library controller card. Dual TCP/IP prevents a loss of connection between the library and host by automatically avoiding a failed port.