T11/97-253





Project Proposal

For a New

NCITS Technical Report







FIBRE CHANNEL

PRIVATE LOOP DIRECT ATTACH

2

(FC-PLDA-2)









October 7, 1997



1 IDENTIFICATION OF PROPOSED PROJECT

1.1 TITLE: Fibre Channel Private Loop Direct Attach 2 (FC-PLDA-2)

1.2 PROPOSER

This project is proposed by Technical Committee T11.

1.3 DATE SUBMITTED: December 11, 1997

1.4 PROJECT TYPE: D - Development done within NCITS TC.

2 JUSTIFICATION OF PROPOSED TECHNICAL REPORT

2.1 NEEDS:

The Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL) project defines a general capability for FC interconnections based upon loop topologies which can form both a part of a FC fabric, or a complete fabric. However most of the initial implementations use FC as a peripheral interconnect replacing existing parallel architectures, and these are implemented as private, isolated loops. To assist in creating these implementations, a Private Loop Direct Attach (FC-PLDA) project was created in T11, and is now in the final stages of approval. FC-PLDA defines a subset of the existing FC definitions which is appropriate for these implementations.

However, because of time-to-market pressures, the PLDA draft has only included support for random-access block storage devices. But there are other types of peripheral which are also appropriate for private loop configurations, of which perhaps the most obvious example is tape devices. In addition, some functions which are supported by the SCSI mapping for Fibre Channel (X3.269:1996, FCP), such as data overlay, were also excluded from the PLDA subset because of time pressures. The intent of this project proposal is therefore to extend the subset defined in PLDA to cover both of these areas.

2.2 RECOMMENDED SCOPE OF TECHNICAL REPORT:

This project proposal recommends the development of a Fibre Channel Private Loop Direct Attach (FC-PLDA-2) Technical Report. This will contain the definition of a subset of existing Fibre Channel definitions, and a more extensive subset than that produced by the FC-PLDA project. This new subset will incorporate additional functionality, including:

a) Support for peripheral types other than random-access block storage

b) Support for additional functions already defined in X3.269:1996, FCP, and being produced for Project 1144-D, FCP-2



2.3 EXISTING PRACTICE IN AREA OF PROPOSED TECHNICAL REPORT:

There are existing implementations of the Fibre Channel suite of standards.

2.4 EXPECTED STABILITY OF PROPOSED TECHNICAL REPORT WITH RESPECT TO CURRENT AND POTENTIAL TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES:

The architecture of Fibre Channel, as defined in FC-PH, is based around a functional model of an interconnection fabric and a modular definition of an interface. Because the interface definition is based on the assumption that most implementations will only support a subset of the defined functionality, the interface includes a set of built-in commands to discover which functions are implemented in each case. Thus it is possible to define subsets for particular markets, and have those subsets evolve and expand over time as application requirements change. As such, the definitions produced by this project are expected to be stable and long-lived.

3 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT

3.1 TYPE OF DOCUMENT (STANDARD OR TECHNICAL REPORT):

Technical Report

3.2 DEFINITION OF CONCEPTS AND SPECIAL TERMS: None

3.3 EXPECTED RELATIONSHIP WITH APPROVED NCITS REFERENCE MODELS:

All Fibre Channel standards are intended for use in closed systems.

3.4 RECOMMENDED PROGRAM OF WORK:

(1) Solicit participation by the present Fibre Channel

participants through T11 procedures and new participants through press releases. Invite comments by end-user

organizations and invite proposals from Fibre Channel development organizations and other organizations that may have interest in this proposed technical report.

(2) Investigate existing standards and standards projects to

determine their applicability to the development effort, and establish liaisons with other standards committees as

appropriate.

(3) Prepare a draft Technical Report based on proposals submitted and other information gathered during the investigations.

(4) Test the Technical Report through the voluntary and

cooperative efforts of T11 Task Group members.

(5) Submit the draft proposed Technical Report to NCITS for further processing.

3.5 RESOURCES - INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS COMPETENT IN SUBJECT MATTER:

The current membership of T11 consists of representatives from all parts of the computer industry including semiconductor chip manufacturers, system manufacturers and Government agencies. Members of T11 have expressed their desire to participate and cooperate in the development of this proposed Technical Report.

There are sufficient resources to complete the definition of this Technical Report without delaying work on other standards

projects.

3.6 RECOMMENDED NCITS DEVELOPMENT TECHNICAL COMMITTEE:

It is recommended that this project be assigned to TC T11, in order that the project be coordinated with work on other Fibre Channel standards projects.

3.7 ANTICIPATED FREQUENCY AND DURATION OF MEETINGS:

This project will make use of the regularly-scheduled bimonthly T11 plenary meetings. Informal working meetings will be organized on an ad-hoc basis to discuss specific subjects where appropriate.

3.8 TARGET DATE FOR INITIAL PUBLIC REVIEW (MILESTONE 4):

June, 1998.

3.9 ESTIMATED USEFUL LIFE OF TECHNICAL REPORT:

It is anticipated that this Technical Report will have a useful life of over 10 years.

4 IMPLEMENTATION IMPACTS

4.1 IMPACT ON EXISTING USER PRACTICES AND INVESTMENTS:

The proposed technical report will provide a migration path complementary to existing practices and investments in peripheral interface technology. It will provide a means to leverage user investments in that technology to new application areas.

It is likely that isolated adverse effects would occur in any case through non-standard evolution or revolution.

4.2 IMPACT ON SUPPLIER PRODUCTS AND SUPPORT:

The proposed technical report will provide an upward growth path that complements and enhances existing supplier products and support schemes. The proposed technical report will result in expanded applications for existing and conceived products in both the channel and network markets. It is likely that isolated adverse effects would occur in any case through non-standard evolution or revolution.

4.3 TECHNIQUES AND COSTS FOR CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT:

The committee will consider the results of testing provided to the committee through the voluntary efforts of the participants in T11. With this method all costs are borne by the organizations of the various participants and have for the most part been mainly an adjunct of their normal development costs.

4.4 LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: None known

5 CLOSELY RELATED STANDARDS ACTIVITIES

5.1 EXISTING STANDARDS:

(1) X3.230:1994, Fibre Channel Physical and Signaling Interface (FC-PH), with amendment X3.230/AM1:1996;

(2) X3.297:1997, Fibre Channel - Physical and Signaling Interface - 2 (FC-PH-2).

5.2 NCITS STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS:

(1) Project 901-D for Fibre Channel - Physical and Signaling Interface -3 (NCITS 303:199x, FC-PH-3), which has completed a first Public Review.

5.3 NCITS STUDY GROUPS: None

5.4 OTHER RELATED DOMESTIC STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS:

None

5.5 ISO/IEC JTC 1 STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS:

No international standardization is proposed for this project.

5.6 OTHER RELATED INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS: None

5.7 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COORDINATING LIAISON: None

5.8 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CLOSE LIAISON: None