Benefits of LRU-centric fibre channel testing

Abstract

Fibre channel is a highly reliable, gigabit, serial interconnect technology. Commercial applications of the fibre channel technology allow concurrent communications among storage devices using upper level protocols such as small computer system interface (SCSI) and internet protocol (IP). Fibre channel technology is scalable and flexible due to its support of various topologies, such as dedicated point-to-point, arbitrated loops, and scaled switched networks. Advanced avionics programs and applications have an increasing need for bandwidth while maintaining low latency, determinism, and reliability. Therefore fibre channel is being selected as an avionics communication solution for a variety of new military aircraft and upgrades to existing aircraft. Testing at all stages (factories and depots) is necessary to guarantee the reliable and deterministic communication of avionics. Fibre Channel avionics networks present new challenges to those responsible for maintenance testing at the depots: 1. the requirement of testing an avionics application communicating via an upper level protocol, while the test environment presents a low level, physical interface. 2. Emulating the system environment of a line replaceable unit (LRU) to obtain complete functional test coverage. 3. Storing and monitoring large amounts of data passing through the fibre channel network. Existing test instruments and emulators in the market operate at the fibre channel protocol level and they lack necessary support for LRUs. Testing at the fibre channel protocol level detects bad receivers, transmitters, media, and fibre channel processors, but fails to find problems in the inner workings of an LRU. In this paper, we will address the testing challenges listed above with an LRU-centric approach. We will specify an LRU-centric fibre channel testing framework and provide implementation guidelines using example applications.