This part of ISO/IEC 14165 specifies signaling interface enhancements for FC-PH, to allow
L_Ports to operate with an Arbitrated Loop topology. This standard defines L_Ports that retain the
functionality of Ports as specified in FC-PH. The Arbitrated Loop topology attaches multiple
communicating points in a loop without requiring switches.
The Arbitrated Loop topology is a distributed topology where each L_Port includes the minimum
necessary function to establish a Loop circuit. A single FL_Port connected to an Arbitrated Loop
allows multiple NL_Ports to attach to a Fabric.
When an L_Port is operating on a Loop with at least one other L_Port, the L_Port uses the
protocol extensions to FC-PH that are specified in this standard.
When an L_Port is connected with an N_Port or an F_Port, the L_Port communicates using the
protocol defined in FC-PH.
Each L_Port may use a self-discovering procedure to find the correct operating mode without the
need for external controls.
ISO/IEC 14165-122:2005 history
2008ISO/IEC 14165-122:2005/Amd 1:2008 Information technology — Fibre Channel — Part 122: Arbitrated Loop-2 (FC-AL-2) — Amendment 1:.