FCIA Expands SANmark Compliance Testing Standards

The Fibre Channel Industry Association (FCIA) announced today that it has released two new SANmark Compliance Documents (SCDs) under the SANmark program. SANmark Compliance Documents are the blueprints from which SANmark Compliance tests for adherence to Fibre Channel standards are based.

The new SCDs are SCD 3010 version 1, and SCD 3020 version 1. SCD3010 tests the operation of RSCN generation from a single switch. RSCN is important for edge devices to be aware of changes in the devices connected to a fabric. SCD3020 tests the operation of zoning in a single switch, to ensure that the switch will only provide name server information for edge devices in the same zone. SCD 3020 also validates that zone data is communicated between switches correctly.

The release of the two new SCDs brings the total of SCDs released to seven. Expected later this year are two additional SCDs, one that will test conformance to the HBA API specification, and one that will verify that edge devices register sufficient information with the Name Server to be manageable by Fibre Channel Management software without requiring vendor unique operations.

“The release of these two new SCDs continues to demonstrate the strong commitment that the vendors who make up the SANmark technical community have toward achieving compatibility and reliability of Fibre Channel device,” said Tony DiCenzo, Chair of the Board of Directors of the FCIA. “The Fibre Channel community has set, and continues to achieve, aggressive goals.”

To date, 25 companies have qualified 82 products against 5 SCDs.