The following provides an example of a typical Fibre Channel training course offered by SRB Consulting. Training sessions can be customized to client needs. Click for detailed information on specific seminars.
Fibre Channel Training Agenda
PART 1: Fibre Channel Introduction
The course is designed with some intentional repetition. This has proved helpful in improving student retention of the many facets, functions, terms, and protocols that make up the family of Fibre Channel standards.
In the Introduction there is a broad and quick overview of everything that will be covered in more detail through the rest of the class. This serves to assist the student in “imaging the whole” so that later they can be more successful in “executing the details.”
1. Where did the Fibre Channel Standard come from?
Helps the student understand the philosophy of the standards committee participants in developing the new Fibre Channel technology.
Aids the student in understanding the features and performance goals of Fibre Channel by giving them the "big picture" of where Fibre Channel came from and the problem sets it was developed to solve.
2. Fibre Channel use in Commercial and DoD Applications
Fibre Channel is used in both a commercial and avionics environment. There is a great deal of similarity in these environments. First, the function and performance of Fibre Channel that applies to the common interests of these two environments will be covered.
2.1 Basic Terms
Defines the many terms that are used to build the many protocols that are used in implementing a Fibre Channel Domain.
3. Topologies Overview
Fibre Channel officially supports three topologies. Although the details are not given here it is useful to get an introduction at this point so that some of the details of the protocols can be properly placed in a topology context.
3.1 Point to Point
3.2 Arbitrated Loop
3.2.1. Arbitrated Loop Hub
3.2.2. Arbitrated Loop Switch
3.3 Switch
3.4 Hybrid Topology
PART 2: Fibre Channel Basics
In the “Basics” the details of the primary protocol elements will be discussed.
By the end of the section the student will know how to read a Fibre Channel analyzer trace to debug problems or verify performance and function.
The structure of the section follows the Fibre Channel FC-FS-2 standard by following the levels.
1. FC-0 Physical level Summary
The FC-0 level is the least covered level because of the uniqueness of every application; in the avionics environment as well as the nature of the “living standard” being that the physical layer is constantly changing to meet real-world requirements.
The basics of the physical layer that do not change from application to application are covered.
The student will be able to identify the Fibre Channel legal speeds; media types, and the path and transformations the data must go through during an end-to-end connection.
2. FC-1 Encoding/Decoding
The student will learn the requirements that made data transformation/encoding necessary.
The student will learn the exact method in which data is encoded onto a Fibre Channel link.
The student will learn the value of Ordered Sets and their use in Fibre Channel basic protocols.
Continued
2.1 8b/10b Encoding/Decoding
2.2 Fundamentals of Ordered Sets
3. FC-2 Framing Protocol
The student will learn about every bit that is necessary and sufficient for controlling end-to-end communication.
The student will learn how to read an analyzer trace.
3.1 Information Transfer Structure
3.1.1. Exchanges and Sequences
3.1.2. Frame Definition
3.1.3. Flow Control
4. FC-3 Common Services
There are no Common Services defined and none discussed in the current class. This item serves as a placeholder for future work being done in the Fibre Channel Standards Committee.
5. FC-4 Upper Level Mapping to Fibre Channel
The means of mapping an upper-level-protocol to Fibre Channel are discussed. First, in theory and then by using a current avionics protocol as an example.
The student will have the necessary background to perform their own mapping of a unique FC-4 upper-level-protocol of their own devising to Fibre Channel.
PART 3: Topologies
This takes a detailed view of the various topologies. In particular the loop protocol is covered so that the student will know exactly how every loop related protocol is accomplished and they will be able to spot wrong and right implementations.
1. Arbitrated Loop Specific Protocols
101 Loop Access Fairness and Arbitration Protocol
1.2. Open and Close Loop Protocols
1.3. BB_Credit Model Flow Control for Loops
2. Fabric Switched Topology
A brief introduction to how the commercial switching environment works and the differences in how the avionics switching environments work.
PART 4: FC-4 Support
This section covers the details of the various protocols used in current avionics implementations.
No program specific avionics data is given. All discussions are related to the various Technical Reports that have been developed by the FC-AE subgroup in the T11 Fibre Channel standards group.
1. Avionics Data Transport Protocols
1.1. Anonymous Publisher/Subscriber (ASM)
1.2. HS 1760
1.3. 1553 Encapsulation
1.4. FC-AE RDMA
1.5. FC-AV
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