Emulex manual Configuring the LP21000 for Multipathing in ESX

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IT organizations can also leverage the Emulex Virtual HBA technology, based on the ANSI T11 N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) standard. This virtualization technology allows a single physical CNA or HBA port to function as multiple virtual ports (VPorts), with each VPort having a separate identity in the Fabric.

NPIV support began with ESX Server 3.5 and requires use of RDM. Using NPIV, each virtual machine can attach to its own VPort which consists of the combination of a distinct Worldwide Node Name (WWNN) and multiple Worldwide Port Names (WWPNs), as shown in Figure 10. Again, the procedures for using this technology are the same as those for Fibre Channel HBAs, including full support for virtual machine and virtual port migration by VMotion.

Configuring the LP21000 for Multipathing in ESX

Multipathing is common technology used by data centers to protect against adapter, switch, or cable failure. Enabling multipathing with the CNA typically means providing link redundancy either in the form of dual- port configurations or a configuration with two single port CNAs to support failover. Similar to HBA multipath configuration, each of the CNA ports used for multipathing must have visibility to the same LUNs including proper physical connectivity, LUN masking, zoning, and any other array configuration. When each LP21000 has the required visibility to the same LUNs and an ESX data store has been appropriately created on those LUNs, then ESX will provide the path switching or the multipathing to that data store, providing a redundant path for VMs to their corresponding storage store. No special drivers are required, since the multipathing functionality is part of ESX.

A single dual-port CNA can provide port redundancy with each port connecting to a different CEE switch.

Server w/

LP21002

FCoE Enabled

Switch

FCoE Enabled

Switch

SAN A

SAN B

Figure 10: Port level redundancy using a single Dual-Ported CNA

Though the above setup provides multiple data paths to the storage and provides active-standby links for networking, it does not eliminate the CNA as the single point of failure. This situation is avoided by the next configuration. Added redundancy can be provided with two CNAs serving one host. Installing two CNAs in one host is the recommended configuration for high availability converged networking.

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Contents Page Table of Contents Drivers of Network Convergence IntroductionConsolidation while protecting existing investments Benefits of FCoE Enabled Network ConvergenceIncreased IT efficiency and business agility FCoE Technology OverviewEmulex LP21000 CNA Introduction to Emulex LP21000 CNAConverged Network Deployment models Converged network deployment and access to SANCNA Instantiation Model in ESX Converged Networking with FCoE in an ESX EnvironmentConfiguring the LP21000 as a Storage Adapter Two LP21000 CNAs appear as Fibre Channel Storage adapters Configuring the LP21000 for Multipathing in ESX Server w LP21000 FCoE Enabled Switch Two LP21000 CNAs appear as two 10 Gigabit network adapters Configuring the LP21000 as a Network AdapterScaling to Enterprise Manageability Configuring the LP21000 for NIC Teaming in ESXPage Conclusion 09-1387