Port 3225

FCIP, or Fibre Channel over Internet Protocol, is a protocol that facilitates the transmission of Fibre Channel (FC) traffic across IP networks. It essentially creates tunnels to encapsulate native Fibre Channel frames within TCP/IP packets, bridging isolated SAN environments interconnected over standard IP-based WAN infrastructures.

By leveraging existing IP-based transport, FCIP allows storage extension solutions without the need for specialized long-haul Fibre Channel links. This flexibility supports disaster recovery, business continuity, and remote data replication, all while utilizing the scalability and ubiquity of IP networking. The protocol defines specific mechanisms to maintain the integrity and ordering of Fibre Channel frames across potentially lossy IP links.

FCIP uses port 3225 both for TCP and UDP communication depending on the configuration. TCP typically provides reliable transport, essential for data integrity, while UDP may be used for specific control signaling. FCIP is part of the Internet Storage Name Service standards to ensure interoperability across vendors and facilitates seamless extension of SAN fabrics.