Fiber Channel

What Does Fiber Channel Mean?

A fiber channel (FC) is a computer networking technology that is used to transfer data between one or more computers at very high speeds. It was initially designed for supercomputers but is now commonly implemented in storage networking server environments as a replacement to small computer system interface (SCSI) and other serial storage technologies.

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Techopedia Explains Fiber Channel

FC is used in a server environment to transfer bulk data between interconnected storage servers or clusters at very high data transfer rates (DTR). It can transfer data in excess of 1 Gbps and reach speed up to 4 Gbps.

FC-based data transfer is usually achieved by using a FC port on a computer or server and a FC-specific switch, which is known as the fabric. The port and switch can be connected using standard coaxial cables or through fiber optic cables.

The signals transmitted from a FC port can be propagated to substantial distances, reaching several kilometers in length with high-speed mediums.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…