i have 12 tape drives which i need to connect it to AIX server. there are already 24 tape drives are connected to it. we have number of dual port HBA's on AIX box. i am new to san and i got few basic questions.
1. how many tape drives i can connect to single port on HBA?
2. I am assuming connection flow, Tape drive --> Switch --> HBA port.
3. how many ports will be there on a single brocade switch?
4. how can i find what ports are free?
5. i should have asked this question at first place, what information should i have to connect these drives to AIX server from SAN point of view?

i may be asking silly question, any information on these will help me a lot.
one more thing anyone of you can provide me with some tutorial links or documents for learning SAN.

thanks.