High data rate applications are increasingly becoming mainstream requirements, so a traditional workstation configuration is expected to be usable for video and other similar applications. FC-AL allows the workstation manufacturer to offer one hardware platform with the right performance characteristics for both application segments. This serves both the vendor and the end user by getting the most value from a single investment. The workstation purchaser can buy a system with FC-AL and not have to worry if they will have sufficient performance if they later want to add a video application. Absolute addressing versus no fixed address FC-AL offers a choice between two absolute addressing methods.
All drives support both methods, and the subsystem developer can choose which they prefer.
With FC-AL, no jumpers or switches are required on the drive. The first method is a worldwide unique address built into every FC device. The second method is an absolute address based on the physical location into which the drive is plugged. In neither case does the drive address ever change during operation. FC-AL can tolerate any number of device failures.