光纤通道为上层协议（ULP）提供了通用数据传输载体，例如智能外设接口（IPI）和小型计算机系统接口（SCSI）命令集、高性能并行接口（HIPPI）数据成帧、IP（互联网协议）等。 该国际标准的特点是将基本光纤通道服务引入成帧和信令(FC-FS)。此外，它描述了支持光纤通道服务所需的任何辅助功能和服务，例如名称、管理、发现、时间和别名服务。

Fibre Channel provides a general data transport vehicle for Upper Level Protocols (ULPs) such as Intelligent Peripheral Interface (IPI) and Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) command sets, the High-Performance Parallel Interface (HIPPI) data framing, IP (Internet Protocol) and others.
This International Standard features the basic fibre channel services introduced into Framing and Signalling (FC-FS). In addition, it describes any ancillary functions and services required to support the Fibre Channel services, such as name, management, discovery, time and alias services.