Deployment Guide

NPIV Proxy Gateway for FC Flex IO Modules
The N-port identier virtualization (NPIV) Proxy Gateway (NPG) feature provides FCoE-FC bridging capability on the FN IOM with the FC
Flex IO module switch, allowing server CNAs to communicate with SAN fabrics over the
FN IOM with the FC Flex IO module.
To congure the FN IOM with the FC Flex IO module to operate as an NPIV proxy gateway, use the following commands:
NPIV Proxy Gateway Conguration on FC Flex IO Modules
The Fibre Channel (FC) Flex IO module is supported on the FN IOM. The FN IOM switch, installed with the FC Flex IO module, function as
a top-of-rack edge switch that supports Converged Enhanced Ethernet (CEE) trac — Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) for storage,
Interprocess Communication (IPC) for servers, and Ethernet local area network (LAN) (IP cloud) for data — as well as FC links to one or
more storage area network (SAN) fabrics.
The N-port identier virtualization (NPIV) proxy gateway (NPG) provides FCoE-FC bridging capability on the FN IOM with the FC Flex IO
module.
This chapter describes how to congure and use an NPIV proxy gateway on the FN IOM with the FC Flex IO module in a (SAN.
NPIV Proxy Gateway Operations and Capabilities
Benets of an NPIV Proxy Gateway
The FN IOM with the FC Flex IO module functions as a top-of-rack edge switch that supports Converged Enhanced Ethernet (CEE) trac
— FCoE for storage, Interprocess Communication (IPC) for servers, and Ethernet LAN (IP cloud) for data — as well as Fibre Channel
(FC) links to one or more SAN fabrics.
Using an NPIV proxy gateway (NPG) helps resolve the following problems in a storage area network:
• Fibre Channel storage networks typically consist of servers connected to edge switches, which are connected to SAN core switches.
As the SAN grows, it is necessary to add more ports and SAN switches. This results in an increase in the required domain IDs, which
may surpass the upper limit of 239 domain IDs supported in the SAN network. An NPG avoids the need for additional domain IDs
because it is deployed outside the SAN and uses the domain IDs of core switches in its FCoE links.
• With the introduction of 10GbE links, FCoE is being implemented for server connections to optimize performance. However, a SAN
traditionally uses Fibre Channel to transmit storage trac. FCoE servers require an ecient and scalable bridging feature to access FC
storage arrays, which an NPG provides.
NPIV Proxy Gateway Operation
Consider a sample scenario of NPG operation. An M1000e chassis congured as an NPG does not join a SAN fabric, but functions as an
FCoE-FC bridge that forwards storage trac between servers and core SAN switches. The core switches forward SAN trac to and from
FC storage arrays.
An M1000e chassis FC port is congured as an N (node) port that logs in to an F (fabric) port on the upstream FC core switch and creates
a channel for N-port identier virtualization. NPIV allows multiple N-port fabric logins at the same time on a single, physical Fibre Channel
link.
Converged Network Adapter (CNA) ports on servers connect to the M1000e chassis Ten-Gigabit Ethernet ports and log in to an upstream
FC core switch through the FC Flex IO module N port. Server fabric login (FLOGI) requests are converted into fabric discovery (FDISC)
requests before being forwarded by the FC Flex IO module to the FC core switch.
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FC Flex IO Modules