Fabric OS Administrator’s Guide 293
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Configuring NPIV 13

Configuring NPIV

The NPIV feature is enabled by default. You can set the number of virtual N_Port_IDs per port to a
value between 1 and 255 per port. The default setting is 126. To specify the number of virtual
N_Port_IDs per port on a switch, use the portCfgNPIVport command to enable or disable the
feature. Once the feature is enabled on the port, you can specify the number of logins per port. If
the feature has been disabled, then the NPIV port configuration will not work.
The addressing mode can limit the maximum number of NPIV logins to 127 or 63 depending on the
mode. The portCfgNPIVPort command can set the maximum number of NPIV login limit to anything
from 1 to 255, regardless of the addressing mode. Whichever of these two (addressing mode or
the value configured through the portCfgNPIVPort) is lower will be the maximum number that can
be logged in.
CAUTION
The portDisable command disables the port and stops all traffic flowing to and from the port.
Perform this command during a scheduled maintenance.
1. Connect to the switch and log in using an account assigned to the admin role.
2. Enter the portDisable command.
3. Enter the portCfgNPIVPort --setloginlimit command with the port number and the number of
logins per port.
4. Press Enter.
5. Enter the portEnable command to enable the port.
Example of setting the login limit
switch:admin> portcfgnpivport --setloginlimit 1 176
NPIV Limit Set to 176 for Port 1
switch:admin> portcfgshow 1
Area Number: 1
Speed Level: AUTO(HW)
Fill Word: 1(Arbff-Arbff)
AL_PA Offset 13: OFF
Trunk Port ON
Long Distance OFF
DCX-4S Enabled Logical switch Yes, 255 virtual device limit.3
DCX-4S Enabled Base switch No.
1. Maximum limit support takes precedence if user-configured maximum limit is greater.
This applies to shared areas on the FC4-48, FC8-48, and FC8-64 port blades.
2. The first 112 physical NPIV-capable devices connected to a logical switch using 10-bit
addressing can log in 255 logical devices. The physical NPIV-capable devices after 112, 113,
and higher, are limited to 63 logical devices.
3. Maximum limit of 63 for 10-bit areas connected to third-party (non-Brocade) NPIV HBAs.
TABLE 53 Number of supported NPIV devices (Continued)
Platform Virtual Fabric Logical switch type NPIV support