T11/05-565v0


        Project Proposal for a Second Amendment to
              INCITS 332:1999 
  Entitled "Fibre Channel 2nd Generation Arbitrated Loop"



1. Source of the Proposed Project

1.1 Title

    Amendment to FC-AL-2 (Fibre Channel – 2nd Generation Arbitrated Loop)

1.2 Date Submitted

    August 9, 2005

1.3 Proposer(s)

    INCITS TC T11, with a present membership of 53.

   
2. Process Description for the Proposed Project

2.1 Project Type (Development or Revision)

    D - Development of Amendment to an INCITS Standard done
        within TC T11.
 
2.2 Type of Document

    Amendment to a standard.


2.3 Definitions of Concepts and Special Terms

    None

2.4 Expected Relationship with Approved Reference Models, Frameworks, Architectures, etc.

    All Fibre Channel standards are intended for use in closed systems.

2.5 Recommended INCITS Development Technical Committee (Existing or New)

    It is recommended that this project be assigned to TC T11, in order that the project is coordinated with work on other Fibre Channel standards.

2.6 Anticipated Frequency and Duration of Meetings

    This project will make use of the regularly scheduled bimonthly T11 plenary meetings. Informal Working Groups will be organized on an ad-hoc basis to discuss specific subjects where appropriate.

2.7 Target Date for Initial Public Review (Milestone 4)

    December 2005.

2.8 Estimated Useful Life of Standard or Technical Report

    It is anticipated that this Technical Report will have a useful life of over 10 years.

3. Business Case for Developing the Proposed Standard or Technical Report

3.1 Description

    This project defines technical corrections to INCITS 332:1999, entitled "Fibre Channel 2nd Generation Arbitrated Loop.” E.g., fix the ARBff fairness defect, and accommodate higher speed technology.


3.2. Existing Practice and the Need for a Standard

    INCITS 332:1999 standardized Fibre Channel 2nd Generation Arbitrated Loop.  Experience in the implementation of the standard and in the development of related standards has revealed the requirement for technical corrections in INCITS 332:1999.  Those corrections will be implemented in the proposed amendment.
 
3.3. Implementation Impacts of the Proposed Standard

3.3.1 Development Costs

    This Technical Report will be developed through the voluntary and cooperative efforts of T11 Task Committee members. No significant development costs are anticipated.

3.3.2 Impact on Existing or Potential Markets

    The proposed Amendment will provide the necessary information to extend the success of the Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop implementations. It is likely that isolated adverse effects would occur in any case through non-standard evolution or revolution.

3.3.3 Costs and Methods for Conformity Assessment

    The committee will consider the results of testing provided to the committee through the voluntary efforts of the participants in T11. With this method all costs are borne by the organizations of the various participants and have for the most part been mainly an adjunct of their normal development costs.

3.3.4 Return on Investment

    The return on investment for this development is expected to be high, due to the relatively small investment in making the required corrections and the high value of the technology defined by the amended standard.

3.4 Legal Considerations

3.4.1 Patent Assertions

    Calls will be made to identify assertions of patent rights in accordance with the relevant INCITS, ANSI, and ISO/IEC policies and procedures. T11 is aware of patent assertions with respect to the original standard but not aware of any patent assertions associated with the amendment.

3.4.2 Dissemination of the Standard or Technical Report

    Drafts of this document will be disseminated electronically. Dissemination of the final standard will be restricted as the document becomes the property of INCITS, ANSI, or ISO/IEC. INCITS TC T11 is not aware of any assertions that will hinder this distribution.

4. Related Standards Activities

4.1 Existing Standards

    INCITS 332:1999, "Fibre Channel 2nd Generation Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL-2)"
    INCITS 332:199/AM1-2003 “Information Technology - Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL-2) Amendment 1”

    INCITS 373:2003, "Fibre Channel Framing and Signaling Interface (FC-FS)"

4.2 Related Standards Activity

    Project 1619-D, "Fibre Channel Framing and Signaling - 2 (FC-FS-2)."

4.3 Recommendations for Close Liaison

    None.

5. Units of Measurement used in the Standard

    The International System of Units (SI) will be used.