HP StorageWorks 8/8 HP StorageWorks Fabric OS 6.2 administrator guide (5697-00 - Page 335

15 Administering NPIV NPIV overview N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) enables a single Fibre Channel protocol port to appear as multiple, distinct ports, providing separate port identification within the fabric for each operating system image behind the port (as if each operating system image had its own unique physical port). NPIV assigns a different virtual port ID to each Fibre Channel protocol device. NPIV is designed to enable you to allocate virtual addresses without impacting your existing hardware implementation. The virtual port has the same properties as an N_Port, and is therefore capable of registering with all services of the fabric. Each NPIV device has a unique device PID, Port WWN, and Node WWN, and should act the same as all other physical devices in the fabric; in other words, multiple virtual devices emulated by NPIV appear no different than regular devices connected to a non-NPIV port. The same zoning rules apply to NPIV devices as non-NPIV devices. Zones can be defined by domain,port notation, by WWN zoning, or both. To perform zoning to the granularity of the virtual N_Port IDs, you must use WWN-based zoning. If you are using domain,port zoning for an NPIV port, and all the virtual PIDs associated with the port are included in the zone, a port login (PLOGI) to a non-existent virtual PID is not blocked by the switch; rather, it is delivered to the device attached to the NPIV port. In cases where the device is not capable of handling such unexpected PLOGIs, you should use WWN-based zoning. Fixed addressing mode Fixed addressing mode is the default addressing mode used in all the platforms, except for the HP StorageWorks DC SAN Backbone Director and HP StorageWorks DC04 SAN Director Switch, that do not have Virtual Fabrics enabled. The number of NPIV devices supported on shared/area ports (48-port Blades) is reduced to 64 from 128 when Virtual Fabrics mode is enabled. 10-Bit addressing mode The 10-bit addressing mode is the default mode for all the Logical Switches created in the HP StorageWorks DC SAN Backbone Director and HP StorageWorks DC04 SAN Director Switch enterprise-class platform. The number of NPIV-to-loop devices supported on a port is 64. Enabling and disabling NPIV NPIV is enabled for every port for the following: • HP StorageWorks 4/8 and 4/16 SAN Switches • HP StorageWorks 8/8 and 8/24 SAN Switches • HP StorageWorks SAN Switch 4/32 • HP StorageWorks 4/64 SAN Switch • HP StorageWorks SAN Switch 4/32B • HP StorageWorks 8/40 SAN Switch • HP StorageWorks 8/80 SAN Switch • HP StorageWorks 4/256 SAN Director • HP StorageWorks DC SAN Backbone Director • HP StorageWorks DC04 SAN Director Switch enterprise-class platforms NOTE: The HP StorageWorks SAN Director 6 Port 10Gb FC blade does not support NPIV. 1. Connect to the switch and log in using an account assigned to the admin role. 2. To enable or disable NPIV on a port-by-port basis, enter the portCfgNPIVPort command. The following example shows NPIV being enabled on port 10 of an HP StorageWorks 8/40 SAN Switch: switch:admin> portCfgNPIVPort 10, 1 Fabric OS 6.2 administrator guide 333