Before starting with NPIV, it's important to understand the different types of ports used in a typical FC fabric.
Note that there is another unique identifier for the port referred to as the WWPN and there is a one-to-one mapping between WWPN and N_Port_ID.
In summary, we can say that for this particular physical N_Port, we have ONLY ONE WWPN and ONLY ONE N_Port_ID.
Now, if this physical N_Port is NPIV enabled, it has the capability to have multiple WWPNs and multiple corresponding N_Port_IDs associated with them.
After the completion of FLOGI process, the NPIV-enabled physical N_Port issues additional commands to register more WWPNs and receive more N_Port_IDs. So, now we have multiple WWPNs for my single physical N_Port Node.
With NPIV, the physical N_Port can register additional WWPNs (and N_Port_IDs), and as a result, only required VMs will be able to see the required LUNs. Not all VMs can see all LUNs.
In a nutshell: NPIV feature provides the ability to your normal physical N_Port switch to create multiple WWPNs and N port IDs.
Take a look at the following diagram to understand N, F, and E type ports:
- N_Port: The end node of your FC fabric. For example, the port on an HBA.
- F_Port: It's on FC switch and connects FC switch with the HBA. Essentially, it’s a connection between the N_Port on an HBA and the F_Port on a Fibre Channel switch.
- E_Port: It connects one Fibre Channel switch in the SAN fabric to another Fibre Channel switch.
Note that there is another unique identifier for the port referred to as the WWPN and there is a one-to-one mapping between WWPN and N_Port_ID.
In summary, we can say that for this particular physical N_Port, we have ONLY ONE WWPN and ONLY ONE N_Port_ID.
Now, if this physical N_Port is NPIV enabled, it has the capability to have multiple WWPNs and multiple corresponding N_Port_IDs associated with them.
After the completion of FLOGI process, the NPIV-enabled physical N_Port issues additional commands to register more WWPNs and receive more N_Port_IDs. So, now we have multiple WWPNs for my single physical N_Port Node.
With NPIV, the physical N_Port can register additional WWPNs (and N_Port_IDs), and as a result, only required VMs will be able to see the required LUNs. Not all VMs can see all LUNs.
In a nutshell: NPIV feature provides the ability to your normal physical N_Port switch to create multiple WWPNs and N port IDs.
Take a look at the following diagram to understand N, F, and E type ports:
