Understanding FORE/IP over SPANS

Version supported

Data ONTAP currently supports only FORE/IP 5.3. For more information about the differences between FORE/IP 5.3 and older versions, see the FORE documentation.

Types of SPANS connections ATM supports

ATM supports two types of SPANS connections:

When SVCs get assigned

Data ONTAP dynamically assigns SVCs when interoperating with ATM hosts and with switches that support the FORE/IP SPANS protocols.

When to use PVCs

You use ATM PVCs to interoperate with ATM hosts and with switches that do not support FORE/IP SPANS. For example, if you are not using a FORE systems switch, PVCs can connect FORE equipment at each end through non-FORE switches.

How FORE/IP interfaces allow communication

For each physical ATM interface, Data ONTAP creates a FORE/IP interface, called fa, at boot time. The fa interface supports FORE/IP on top of SPANS signaling. FORE/IP allows communication as follows:

Using AAL4 or AAL5 ATM adaptation layer types with no encapsulation
Using a broadcast Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) for SPANS address resolution
Using direct communication of all hosts on a physical ATM network without the use of IP routers
Note
Data ONTAP does not support FORE/IP load balancing or failover options.