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20-5
Cisco MDS 9000 Family Fabric Manager Configuration Guide
OL-17256-03, Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 4.x
Chapter 20 Configuring Interfaces
Fibre Channel Interfaces
F Port
In fabric port (F port) mode, an interface functions as a fabric port. This port may be connected to a
peripheral device (host or disk) operating as an N port. An F port can be attached to only one N port. F
ports support class 2 and class 3 service.
FL Port
In fabric loop port (FL port) mode, an interface functions as a fabric loop port. This port may be
connected to one or more NL ports (including FL ports in other switches) to form a public arbitrated
loop. If more than one FL port is detected on the arbitrated loop during initialization, only one FL port
becomes operational and the other FL ports enter nonparticipating mode. FL ports support class 2 and
class 3 service.
Note FL port mode is not supported on 4-port 10-Gbps switching module interfaces.
NP Ports
An NP port is a port on a device that is in NPV mode and connected to the core switch via an F port. NP
ports behave like N ports except that in addition to providing N port behavior, they also function as
proxies for multiple, physical N ports.
For more details about NP ports and NPV, see Chapter 21, “Configuring N Port Virtualization.”
TL Port
In translative loop port (TL port) mode, an interface functions as a translative loop port. It may be
connected to one or more private loop devices (NL ports). TL ports are specific to Cisco MDS 9000
Family switches and have similar properties as FL ports. TL ports enable communication between a
private loop device and one of the following devices:
• A device attached to any switch on the fabric
• A device on a public loop anywhere in the fabric
• A device on a different private loop anywhere in the fabric
• A device on the same private loop
TL ports support class 2 and class 3 services.
Private loop devices refer to legacy devices that reside on arbitrated loops. These devices are not aware
of a switch fabric because they only communicate with devices on the same physical loop (see the
“About TL Port ALPA Caches” section on page 20-25).
Tip We recommend configuring devices attached to TL ports in zones that have up to 64 zone members.
Note TL port mode is not supported on Generation 2 switching module interfaces.
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