Device Alias Modes - Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Configuration Manual

Device Alias Databases
Command or Action
Step 3
device-alias name device-name pwwn pwwn-id
Example:
switch(config-device-alias-db)# device-alias name
mydevice pwwn 21:01:00:e0:8b:2e:80:93
Step 4 no device-alias name device-name
Example:
switch(config-device-alias-db)# no device-alias name
mydevice
Step 5 device-alias rename old-device-name new-device-name
Example:
switch(config-device-alias-db)# device-alias rename
mydevice mynewdevice
EXAMPLES
This example shows how to display the device alias configuration.
switch# show device-alias name x
device-alias name x pwwn 21:01:00:e0:8b:2e:80:93

Device Alias Modes

You can specify that aliases operate in basic or enhanced modes.
When operating in basic mode, which is the default mode, the device alias is immediately expanded to a
pWWN. In basic mode, when device aliases are changed to point to a new HBA, for example, that change is
not reflected in the zone server. Users must remove the previous HBA's pWWN, add the new HBA's pWWN,
and then reactivate the zoneset.
When operating in enhanced mode, applications accept a device alias name in its native format. Instead of
expanding the device alias to a pWWN, the device alias name is stored in the configuration and distributed
in its native device alias format. So applications such as zone server, PSM, or DPVM can automatically keep
track of the device alias membership changes and enforce them accordingly. The primary benefit of operating
in enhanced mode is that you have a single point of change.
Whenever you change device alias modes, the change is distributed to other switches in the network only if
device alias distribution is enabled or on. Otherwise, the mode change only takes place on the local switch.
Enhanced mode, or native device alias-based configurations, are not accepted in interop mode VSANs.
Note
IVR zoneset activation fails in interop mode VSANs if the corresponding zones have native device
alias-based members.
Cisco Nexus 5000 Series NX-OS SAN Switching Configuration Guide, Release 5.2(1)N1(1)
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Distributing Device Alias Services
Purpose
Specifies a device name for the device that is identified
by its pWWN. Starts writing to the pending database
and simultaneously locks the fabric as this is the
first-issued device alias configuration command.
Removes the device name for the device that is
identified by its pWWN.
Renames an existing device alias with a new name.
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