Overview

System Hardware User Manual

This document contains hardware descriptions, LED assignments, and hardware specifications, among other things

Switch Product Release Notes

Please look up the relevant switch system/series release note file

AAA

Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting:

• Authentication—verifies user credentials (username and password)

• Authorization—grants or refuses privileges to a user/client for accessing specific services

• Accounting—tracks network resources consumption by users

ARP

Address Resolution Protocol. A protocol that translates IP addresses into MAC addresses for communication over a local area network (LAN).

CLI

Command Line Interface. A user interface in which you type commands at the prompt.

DCBX

Domain Name System. A hierarchical naming system for devices in a computer network.

DHCP

The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is an automatic configuration protocol used on IP networks.

Modular switch

A high density InfiniBand chassis switch system.

DNS

Domain Name System. A hierarchical naming system for devices in a computer network.

Fabric management

The use of a set of tools (APIs) to configure, discover, and manage and a group of devices organized as a connected fabric.

FTP/TFTP/sFTP

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a standard network protocol used to transfer files from one host to another over a TCP-based network, such as the Internet.

Gateway

A network node that interfaces with both InfiniBand and Ethernet, using different network protocols.

GID

Global Identifier. A 128-bit number used to identify a Port on a network adapter (see below), a port on a Router, or a Multicast Group.

GUID

Globally Unique Identifier. A 64-bit number that uniquely identifies a device or component in a subnet.

HA

High Availability. A system design protocol that provides redundancy of system components, thus enables overcoming single or multiple failures in minimal downtime.

Host

A computer platform executing an Operating System which may control one or more network adapters.

IB

InfiniBand

LID

Local Identifier. A 16 bit address assigned to end nodes by the subnet manager. Each LID is unique within its subnet.

LLDP

Link Layer Discovery Protocol. A vendor neutral link layer protocol used by network devices to advertise their identify, capabilities and for neighbor discovery.

MAC

A Media Access Control address (MAC address) is a unique identifier assigned to network interfaces for communications on the physical network segment. MAC addresses are used for numerous network technologies and most IEEE 802 network technologies including Ethernet.

MTU

Maximum Transfer Unit. The maximum size of a packet payload (not including headers) that can be sent /received from a port.

Network Adapter

A hardware device that allows for communication between computers in a network.

RADIUS

Remote Authentication Dial In User Service. A networking protocol that enables AAA centralized management for computers to connect and use a network service.

RDMA

Remote Direct Memory Access. Accessing memory in a remote side without involvement of the remote CPU.

SA

Subnet Administrator (SA) is the interface for querying and manipulating subnet management data.

SCP

Secure Copy or SCP is a means of securely transferring computer files between a local and a remote host or between two remote hosts. It is based on the Secure Shell (SSH) protocol.

SM

Subnet Manager. An entity that configures and manages the subnet, discovers the network topology, assign LIDs, determines the routing schemes and sets the routing tables. There is only one master SM and possible several slaves (Standby mode) at a given time. The SM administers switch routing tables thereby establishing paths through the fabric.

SNMP

Simple Network Management Protocol. A network protocol for the management of a network and the monitoring of network devices and their functions.

NTP

Network Time Protocol. A protocol for synchronizing computer clocks in a network.

SSH

Secure Shell. A protocol (program) for securely logging in to and running programs on remote machines across a network. The program authenticates access to the remote machine and encrypts the transferred information through the connection.

syslog

A standard for forwarding log messages in an IP network.

TACACS+

Terminal Access Controller Access-Control System Plus. A networking protocol that enables access to a network of devices via one or more centralized servers. TACACS+ provides separate AAA services.

Subnet manager

• OpenSM

• Partitions

• High availability