Qlogic QConvergeConsole CLI 8100 Series, User Manual

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8–Configuring FCoE in a Linux Environment
N_Port ID Virtualization
8-24 FE0254601-00 A
Figure 8-9. N_Port ID Virtualization
QLogic CNA NPIV Solution
To complement Linux server virtualization software solutions, QLogic has
extended virtualization capabilities to the adapter hardware through NPIV. All
QLogic 8100 Series Adapters support NPIV. QLogic supports creating, deleting,
and managing NPIV ports through the FCoE driver sysfs interface. The
sysfs
virtual file system is available in all RHEL 5 installations.
With the combined QLogic and Linux solution, storage administrators can create
virtual FCoE adapter ports within multiple zones, and assign them to VMs for
migration without reconfiguring zoning or LUN masking. This solution creates a
virtualized network that is easier to manage and maintain. In addition, support for
Linux-based virtualization solutions combined with QLogic’s 8100 Series Adapter
virtualization technologies, increases hardware efficiency, and enables rapid
configuration and deployment of VMs.
NPIV Deployment Requirements
The following hardware and software elements are required to deploy a QLogic
NPIV solution in an RHEL 5 environment:
 A compatible Converged Networking Ethernet switch that supports NPIV.
For information about compatible switches, refer to
“System Requirements”
on page 4-1 .
 A QLogic 8100 Series Converged Networking Adapter.
 An active link (link up) between the QLogic 8100 Series Adapter and the
FCoE switch.