Configuring N Port Virtualization; About Npv - Cisco AP775A - Nexus Converged Network Switch 5010 Configuration Manual

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Configuring N Port Virtualization

N port virtualization (NPV) reduces the number of Fibre Channel domain IDs in SANs. Switches
operating in the NPV mode do not join a fabric. They pass traffic between NPV core switch links and
end devices, which eliminates the domain IDs for these edge switches.
NPV is supported by the following Cisco MDS 9000 switches only:
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Note NPV is available on these switches only while in NPV mode; if in switch mode, NPV is not available.
This chapter includes the following sections:
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About NPV

Typically, Fibre Channel networks are deployed using a core-edge model with a large number of fabric
switches connected to core devices. However, as the number of ports in the fabric increases, the number
of switches deployed also increases, and you can end up with a dramatic increase in the number of
domain IDs (the maximum number supported is 239). This challenge becomes even more difficult when
additional blade chassis are deployed in Fibre Channel networks.
NPV addresses the increase in the number of domain IDs needed to deploy a large number of the ports
by making a fabric or module switch appear as a host to the core Fibre Channel switch, and as a Fibre
Channel switch to the servers in the fabric or blade switch. NPV aggregates multiple locally connected
N ports into one or more external NP links, which shares the domain ID of the NPV core switch among
multiple NPV switches (see
on the NPV core switch, thereby reducing the need for more ports on the core.
OL-17256-03, Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 4.x
Cisco MDS 9124 Multilayer Fabric Switch
Cisco MDS 9134 Fabric Switch
Cisco Fabric Switch for HP c-Class BladeSystem
Cisco Fabric Switch for IBM BladeCenter
About NPV, page 21-1
NPV Guidelines and Requirements, page 21-6
Configuring NPV, page 21-7
Using the NPV Setup Wizard, page 21-13
Figure
C H A P T E R
21-1). NPV also allows multiple devices to attach to the same port
Cisco MDS 9000 Family Fabric Manager Configuration Guide
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21-1