Q-Logic 8100 SERIES NPort ID Virtualization, Interrupt Delay Timer IDT, Operation Mode Values

7–Configuring FCoE in a Windows Environment N_Port ID Virtualization

	Table 7-2. Operation Mode Values
Values	Operation
0	Disables ZIO mode.

5Enables ZIO mode 5. DMA transfers response queue entries into the response queue. No interrupt is generated unless the Interrupt Delay Timer updates the Response Queue-Out Pointer register.

6Enables ZIO mode 6. DMA transfers response queue entries into the response queue and generates an interrupt when the firmware has no active exchanges (even if the interrupt delay timer has not expired).

Interrupt Delay Timer (IDT)

The Interrupt Delay Timer parameter is available if the Operation Mode (ZIO) parameter is enabled. The Interrupt Delay Timer parameter specifies the time period (in 100-microsecond increments) between updating the response queue and generating an interrupt. The interrupt is not generated if the host updates the Response Queue Out-Pointer register during this time. Specifying a value of 0 disables the timer. In the firmware, the value 0 is equivalent to a time period of two hours.

N_Port ID Virtualization

N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) is a Fibre Channel facility that allows multiple

N_Port IDs to share a single physical N_Port. N_Port sharing allows multiple Fibre Channel initiators to use a single physical port, easing hardware requirements in SAN design, especially where virtual SANs are used. NPIV is defined by the technical committee T11 within the INCITS standards body by the FC-DA (Fibre Channel Direct Attach) and FC-LS (Fibre Channel Link Services) specifications.

NPIV virtualizes the Fibre Channel adapter function such that each VM running on a server can share a pool of adapters and maintain independent access to its own protected storage. This sharing enables administrators to leverage standard SAN management tools and best practices, such as fabric zoning and LUN mapping/masking, and it enables the full use of fabric-based quality-of-service and accounting capabilities. Adapter sharing also provides the most efficient use of the adapters in the server, while ensuring the highest level of data protection.

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