I had asked this question in another format and there hasn't been a final solution yet. So, here it is again:
I need to connect a Tape Library with fibre channel interface ( LC ) to an Xserve with Apple fibre channel HBA. What SFP should I buy ?
Yes, I have seen that chart. It's half of the solution, if at all.
You see, the problem is I have to use an off the shelf fibre LC-LC cable to connect to my IBM/HP fibre port. That leaves me with a " PC " centric LC end of the fibre cable in hand - wondering how to connect it to the Xserve.
Or, if I start from the Xserve side with the standard fibre cables that are popular with Xserves ( or Apple approved fibre HBA ) I'll end up with a bolted-in FSP in hand wondering how to connect it to an LC fibre port on the TapeDrive side.
According to what I have seen on line, there are FSP modules for this purpose. That allow you to do:
Tape drive FC - LC port + LC type connector ( tapedrive side ) + LC type connector - " FSP module " + Xserve fibre card.
So far , I have not found a single FSP module that is " APPLE " friendly and can do the LC connection.
I expect any of those Apple cables to use standard protocols such an afp: or smb:
I understand your skepticism, but unless you have evidence that it does NOT work, I suggest you plug it in and try it.
Do you also need an Ethernet "side channel" ?
Grant,
I would if I could ! In fact I'm dying to make this connection ( over 18 terabytes of work data and growing with no backup ! LOL ).
The physical connectors hardware don't match. the common SAN environment fibre LC-LC cables have completely different connectors than we are used to on the Xserves's fibre channel card.
http://www.jfiberoptic.com/products/LC%252dST-Multimode-Duplex-Fiber-Optic-Patch -Cable.html
( BTW, are we allowed to attach images in this forum ? How )
The little Icon in the reply header on the forum that looks like an SLR camera will allow you to post modest-sized pictures.
They need to be already downloaded to your computer, otherwise, just post a link to them on the Internet.
Here are a couple images. These may represent the connection challenge on the Tape drive side ( sorry for over-sized images ).
As you see, physically it's not possible to make the connection between the Apple style SFP and the standard LC connection on the back of the tape drive module. I'm sure this is just another noob question for a pro NAS IT but, hey - I was told there is no such thing as " stupid question " !
Unencumbered by knowing much of anything about this, it looks to me like your second picture is showing TWO Transceivers: One on the end of the cable, and one in a slot on the tape drive. The one on the tape drive looks like it wants to receive fiber optic cables directly, while the one on the Mac cable looks like it wants to plug into a standard electrical interface.
I expect to make progress, you will need to remove one of those.
yes, I am told to forget about adapting the " Apple FSP " to the tape drive. That LC fibre plug on the back of the tapedrive is very common and any FC-FC cable would plug into it. On the end of these cables the user connects a " suitable " FSP connector to go between the FC-FC cable end and the plug on the machine. something like the attached image. But there is no mention of compatibility to Apple, Xserve or any thing Apple related in the description of the product. The sellers either don't reply to compatibility questions or simply admit to their lack of knowledge in Apple's stuff. There was one mention that if the voltage is not correct the FSP module could damage ( KILL ) the fibre channel card. I have an expensive Atto fibre channel card in my Xserve and I don't really feel comfortable doing the trial and error with it.
There was one mention that if the voltage is not correct the FSP module could damage ( KILL ) the fibre channel card.
That sound like nonsense. Why would anyone release a product into the wild that mated to something else that would blow it up? they would key it or change the electrical ends so that you could not damage it.
That Apple article above list transceivers that are compatible, and some Finisair FTLF8524P2 models like the one you pictured were listed at the end of the article. There is a Finisair web site with some specs on it as well.
I have seen the bits on the Apple support article for FSP compatibility. Foe some reason they all have the upper cable or the fibre cable bolted in. They are not standalone. The finisar website items are so vast and nerdy explain that makes it impossible to figure things out. They don't reply to communications either.
On the case of the voltage, I was surprised too. You see, most these SFP modules are destined to be connected to fibre switches with variable io abilities and safeguards. SFPs are made for carry all kind of " optical " signals that get transcribe to digital ( electrical ) signal inside the fibre channel HBA accordingly. That's where the issues start. Apple amongst others used the format and put coper inside the cable and used specific SFP that transmits electric signal specific to Apple standards. There are other non optical transceivers out there with other standards ( read it other voltage ) that are not recommended to be used with Apple certified HBA cards.
Finally I'm in contact with an IT that had used Xserves in a SAN environment. Although they didn't have tape libraries on their network but they used mage raided IBM clusters. I'll report back with findings.
I need to connect a Tape Library with fibre channel interface ( LC ) to an Xserve with Apple fibre channel HBA. What SFP should I buy ?
