Configuring N Port Virtualization; Information About Npv; Npv Overview - Cisco nexus 5000 series Cli Configuration Manual

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Configuring N Port Virtualization

This chapter describes how to configure N port virtualization (NPV) on Cisco Nexus 5000 Series
switches.
This chapter includes the following sections:
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Information About NPV

NPV configuration is described in the following topics:
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NPV Overview

By default, Cisco Nexus 5000 Series switches operate in fabric mode. In this mode, the switch provides
standard Fibre Channel switching capability and features.
In fabric mode, each switch that joins a SAN is assigned a domain ID. Each SAN (or VSAN) supports
a maximum of 239 domain IDs, so the SAN has a limit of 239 switches. In a SAN topology with a large
number of edge switches, the SAN may need to grow beyond this limit. NPV alleviates the domain ID
limit by sharing the domain ID of the core switch among multiple edge switches.
In NPV mode, the edge switch relays all traffic from server-side ports to the core switch. The core switch
provides F port functionality (such as login and port security) and all the Fibre Channel switching
capabilities.
OL-16597-01
Information About NPV, page 1-1
Guidelines and Limitations, page 1-5
Configuring NPV, page 1-6
Verifying NPV, page 1-8
NPV Overview, page 1-1
NPV Mode, page 1-2
Server Interfaces, page 1-2
NP Uplinks (External Interfaces), page 1-3
FLOGI Operation, page 1-3
NPV Traffic Management, page 1-4
NPV Traffic Management Guidelines, page 1-5
C H A P T E R
Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switch CLI Software Configuration Guide
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