IBM EN2A PCIe3 16 Gb 2-port Fibre Channel adapter CCIN 579D 02JD564/02JD560

  

The PCIe3 16 Gb 2-port Fibre Channel adapter is an x8, generation 3 (gen3), PCIe adapter. This adapter is a high-performance x8 short form adapter also referred to as a PCIe Host Bus Adapter (HBA). The adapter provides two ports of 16 Gb Fibre Channel capability using SR optics.

Each port can provide up to 16 Gb Fibre Channel functions simultaneously. The FC EN2A is a short, regular height adapter. Each port provides single initiator capability over a fibre link. If you are using N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV), multiple initiator capability is provided. The ports are SFP+ and include an optical SR transceiver.

The ports have little connector-type (LC) and utilize shortwave laser optics. The adapter operates at link speeds of 4, 8, and 16 Gbps and it will automatically negotiate to the highest speed possible. LEDs on each port provide information on the status and link speed of the port.

The adapter connects to a Fibre Channel switch at 4 Gb, 8 Gb, or 16 Gb. It can directly attach to a device without a switch at 16 Gb. The adapter without a Fibre Channel switch attached is not supported at 4 Gb or 8 Gb. NPIV capability is supported through Virtual I/O Server (VIOS). The adapter has the following features.

The adapter is compliant with the PCIe base and Card Electromechanical (CEM) 2.0 specifications with the following characteristics. Provides an x8 lane link interface at 14.025 Gbps, 8.5 Gbps, or 4.25 Gbps (automatic negotiation with system). Provides support for one Virtual Channel (VC0) and one Traffic Class (TC0). Provides configuration and I/O memory read and write, completion, and messaging capabilities. Provides support for 64-bit addressing.

Provides error correction code (ECC) and error protection functions. Provides link cyclic redundancy check (CRC) on all PCIe packets and message information. Provides a large payload size of 2048 bytes for read and write functions. Provides a large read request size of 4096 bytes.

The adapter is compatible with 4, 8, and 16 Gb Fibre Channel interface with the following characteristics. Provides for automatic negotiation between 4 Gb, 8 Gb, or 16 Gb link attachments. Provides support for the following Fibre Channel topologies: point-to-point (16 Gb only) and fabric. Provides support for Fibre Channel class 3.

Provides a maximum Fibre Channel throughput that is achieved by using full duplex hardware support. The adapter provides an end-to-end data path parity and CRC protection, including internal data path random-access memory (RAM).

Provides architectural support for multiple upper layer protocols. Provides comprehensive virtualization capabilities with support for N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) and virtual fabric (VF). Provides support for message signaled interrupts extended (MSI-X).

Provides support for 255 VFs and 1024 MSi-X. Provides an internal, high-speed static random-access memory (SRAM) memory. Provides ECC protection of local memory that includes single-bit correction and double-bit protection.

Provides an embedded shortwave optical connection with diagnostics capability. Provides support for an on-board context management by firmware. Up to 8192 FC port logins. I/O multiplexing down to the Fibre Channel frame level. Provides data buffers capable of supporting 64+ buffer-to-buffer (BB) credits per port for shortwave applications.

Provides link management and recovery that is handled by firmware. Provides on-board diagnostic capability accessible by an optional connection. Provides a performance up to 16 Gbps full duplex.