Access Gateway mapping
When operating in AG mode, you must specify pre-provisioned routes that AG will use to direct traffic
from the devices (hosts or targets) on its F_Ports to the ports connected to the fabric using its N_Ports.
This is unlike Native switch mode where the switch itself determines the best path between its F_Ports.
This process of pre-provisioning routes in AG mode is called "mapping."
During mapping, device World Wide Names (WWNs) or F_Ports are assigned to N_Ports and N_Port
groups on the switch running in AG mode. Mapping ensures that a device logging in to the switch will
always connect to the fabric through a specific N_Port or N_Port group. Two types of mapping are
available:
• Port mapping
A specific F_Port is mapped to a specific N_Port. This ensures that all traffic from a specific F_Port
always goes through the same N_Port. To map an F_Port to an N_Port group, simply map the port to
an N_Port that belongs to that port group. All F_Ports mapped to that N_Port will be part of that
N_Port group.
• Device mapping (optional)
A specific device WWN is mapped to N_Port groups (preferred method) or to specific N_Ports.
Device mapping allows a virtual port to access its destination device regardless of the F_Port where
the device resides. Device mapping also allows multiple virtual ports on a single physical machine to
access multiple destinations residing in different fabrics.
Device mapping is optional and should be added on top of existing port maps. Port mapping must
exist at all times.
Port mapping
F_Ports must be mapped to N_Ports before the F_Ports can come online. The figure below shows an
example in which eight F_Ports are mapped evenly to four N_Ports on a switch in AG mode. The
N_Ports connect to the same fabric through different Edge switches.
Access Gateway mapping
Access Gateway Administrator's Guide 29
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