Q-Logic 8100 SERIES manual Implementing Adapter-Based Quality of Service

7–Configuring FCoE in a Windows Environment N_Port ID Virtualization

Implementing Adapter-Based Quality of Service

The QLogic 8100 Series Adapter solution provides for standards-based quality of service (QoS), ensuring high-quality performance for applications that require preferential delivery. The QLogic QoS solution is based on assigning QoS levels to virtual ports (NPIV ports). You can configure QoS using the priority method or the bandwidth method, as shown in Figure 7-5. On a single physical port, you can configure QoS using the priority method or the bandwidth method but not both.

Figure 7-5. Priority and Bandwidth-Based QoS

The priority method assigns priority levels (low, medium, high) to virtual ports based on the quality of service required for the applications or VMs using the virtual port. This method provides for various levels of latency requirements across virtual ports.

The bandwidth method assigns a bandwidth percentage (0–100) or a bandwidth rate (0–10Gb) to applications or VMs that are using a virtual port. This method provides a minimum bandwidth guarantee. Bandwidth-based QoS configuration applies only when the total bandwidth requirement of the applications exceeds the available bandwidth. Bandwidth is not reserved for a particular virtual port, and unused bandwidth is shared among the other virtual ports.

The physical port or WWN always has high priority, independent of the bandwidth or priority scheme chosen for created virtual ports. You need not assign a QoS level to every virtual port that you create. If a QoS level is not assigned to a virtual port, the default is low priority (best effort), independent of the bandwidth or priority scheme. This flexibility allows you to focus on critical applications to ensure that the highest service level is provided. You can modify QoS levels for virtual ports using the QConvergeConsole CLI.

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