Users Guide

24
NPIV Proxy Gateway
The N-port identifier virtualization (NPIV) Proxy Gateway (NPG) feature provides FCoE-FC bridging
capability on the Aggregator, allowing server CNAs to communicate with SAN fabrics over the
Aggregator.
Supported Modes
PMUX
NPIV Proxy Gateway Configuration
The Aggregator switches function as a top-of-rack edge switch that supports Converged Enhanced
Ethernet (CEE) traffic — 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 NPG provides FCoE-FC bridging capability on the Aggregator.
This chapter describes how to configure and use an NPIV proxy gateway on the Aggregator in a SAN.
NPIV Proxy Gateway Operations and Capabilities
Benefits of an NPIV Proxy Gateway
The Aggregator functions as a top-of-rack edge switch that supports CEE traffic — FCoE for storage, IPC
for servers, and Ethernet LAN (IP cloud) for data — as well as FC links to one or more SAN fabrics.
Using an 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 traffic. FCoE servers
require an efficient and scalable bridging feature to access FC storage arrays, which an NPG provides.
304
NPIV Proxy Gateway