...couple questions...

[rickkar1]

NPIV==Fibre Channel N_Port ID virtualization.  ANSI T11 standard that describes how a single FC HBA port can register with the fabric using several worldwide port names(WWPNs)...

Question1:  was NPIV introduced first in ESX4 ...  if not then in what ESX version...?

Question2:  is the following a correct statement...

"These are the methods of allocating storage that can be supported by certain storage arrays:

1) VMFS

2) RDM LUN

3) NPIV

4) RDM HBA

thanks in advance!

-r

[cmcminn]

I believe 3.5 was the first iteration of NPIV in a VMware infrastructure.

Also, add NFS to you list of datastores.

[nava_thulasi39]

Hi,

As cmcminn mentioned, NPIV introduced in VI 3.5. Reference: http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/new_storage_features_3_5_v6.pdf

Question2:  is the following a correct statement...

"These are the methods of allocating storage that can be supported by certain storage arrays:

1) VMFS

2) RDM LUN

3) NPIV

4) RDM HBA

1. VMFS

2. NFS

3. RDM (Physical, Virtual)

[rickkar1]

Thx very much,

As I understand it now,  NPIV is a virtual adapter, not a filesystem.  NPIV gives a VM a way to user Fibre Channel.... correct?

And, could you please explain or provide pointers to documentation re: RDM(physical?, virtual?)  ...

Thx,

-r

[mittim12]

NPIV allows you to allocate LUNS to a specific VM instead of a vSphere host.  It has to be used with RDMs and here is some documentation about setting it up.   http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/techpaper/vsp_4_vsp4_41_npivconfig.pdf

[vGuy]

NPIV allows you to register multiple WWNs on a single HBA port. Your HBAs and also SAN switches need to have NPIV support. And it only works with RDMs. more detailed info can be found here: http://www.simonlong.co.uk/blog/2009/07/27/npiv-support-in-vmware-esx4/

RDMs or Raw Device Mapping allows VMs direct access to the LUNs thus enabling to take advantage of some advance SAN features (snapshots, etc). As you mentioned, RDMs have 2 modes, virtual and physical. The major difference between them feature wise(among others) is virtual mode supports snapshots, you can read about it in detail here:

http://www.virtuallifestyle.nl/2010/01/recommended-detailed-material-on-rdms/