Q-Logic 3200, 8200 manual NIC Partition NPAR, Configuration and Operation

2–Configuring NIC NIC Partition (NPAR)

NIC Partition (NPAR)

The NPAR feature in QLogic adapters provides the ability to create multiple PCIe physical functions for each physical 10GbE port on the adapter. Each of the PCIe functions appears as an independent interface to the host operating system or hypervisor.

Dual-port, 10Gb adapters configured as Ethernet-only adapters contain eight Ethernet functions. 8200 Series and 3200 Series adapter configurations can contain up to four Ethernet functions corresponding to each physical port.

Configuration and Operation

By default, NPAR functionality is disabled on the adapters. Only two Ethernet functions are enabled. Depending on the feature personality mapping supported on the adapter, you can enable additional Ethernet or storage functions. The PCI function number assignment is as follows:

Functions 0 and 1 are always NIC functions.

Functions 4 and 5 are iSCSI functions if iSCSI is enabled.

Functions 6 and 7 are FCoE functions if FCoE is enabled.

If iSCSI and FCoE functions are not enabled, they can be configured as NIC functions.

Only one iSCSI function per physical port.

Only one FCoE function per physical port.

The PCI function to port mapping is also fixed as follows:

Functions 0, 2, 4, and 6 share one physical port.

Functions 1, 3, 5, and 7 share the other physical port.

When performed, the following operations require a system reboot to take effect:

Enabling or disabling NPAR mode

Changing function type:

iSCSI to NIC

FCoE to NIC

NIC to FCoE

Perform NPAR configuration using any of the following methods:

OptROM

Lifecycle controller

Managements tools under various OSs

SN0054671-00 A 2-35