properly zoning esxi host

[marknashe]

Hello,

I'm new to FC. I have an esxi host, which I need to create a zone for on my FC switch. When I look in vSphere, I see two addresses for my QLogic HBA. It shows 20:00:00:26:ff:xx:xx:22:01  21:00:00:26:ff:xx:xx:22:01.

I go to my FC switch to create an alias. Then I want to add the wwn as a member. if I expand WWNs, and find the one from above, it has a + sign next to it, if I ignore the + and add it like that, both the 20:00:00 and the 21:00:00 get added. However, if I expand the +, and drill down into it and then add it, only one of those addresses gets added.

No idea which one is right?

This is not really specific to vmware, as every server I have shows the same thing, I just find this community more helpful :smileygrin:

[abhilashhb]

If you have the configurations set right, your one WWPN will show on one switch and another on another switch.(If you have two switches that is). The WWNs are not used for zoning. The drop down that you see are the WWPN's. You would have to zone one WWPN through the first switch to one of the storage processors on the array and second WWPN through second switch to another Storage processor on array.

[marknashe]

Maybe I'm confused with the terminology then. I do have 2 switches. One connection goes to one switch and the other goes to the second switch.

However, each connection has two addresses, so in VMware, I see

HBA2 20:00:00:26:ff:xx:xx:22:01  21:00:00:26:ff:xx:xx:22:01

HBA3 20:00:00:26:ff:xx:xx:22:02  21:00:00:26:ff:xx:xx:22:02

[a_p_ · Accepted solution]

For zoning you'd usually use the WWPN (World Wide Port Name) which is assigned to a single port. With a single port HBA you have one WWN/WWNN (World Wide Node Name), and a single WWPN, and for multi-port cards you will still have a single WWN/WWNN but multiple WWPNs, which may be used for different zones. (maybe World Wide Port Name - Wikipedia helps)

André

[marknashe]

Thanks Andre, I just came across the same wiki. They are single port HBA for sure

What I'm gathering is the 20:00: is the WWNN, and the 21:00 is the WWPN, so I should only be adding the 21:00 (WWPN)

Is it a bad thing to add both the WWNN and WWPN? If so, I will switch it.

Interestingly enough, I have some that just have the WWNN added, which may be a bad thing?

[a_p_]

With a single port HBA you may not be in trouble either way. However, as a general rule, you should always use the WWPN for zoning, unless there special are requirements for using the WWNN.

André

[VirtuallyMikeB]

Hello,

When viewing WWNs in the vSphere Client, the second WWN is the WWPN.  The first is the WWNN.  Zone using the second.  As already mentioned, you generally shouldn't zone using the WWNN.

All the best,

Mike

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Please consider marking this answer "correct" or "helpful" if you found it useful.

Mike Brown

VMware, Cisco Data Center, and NetApp dude

Consulting Engineer

michael.b.brown3@gmail.com

Twitter: @VirtuallyMikeB

Blog: http://VirtuallyMikeBrown.com

LinkedIn: http://LinkedIn.com/in/michaelbbrown

[marknashe]

Thanks Andre and Mike Brown!

That clears it up nicely!