VMware advanced configuration

NPIV is an extension to the Fibre Channel industry standard.

In a server virtualization environment, N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) allows each virtual machine to have a unique Fibre Channel (FC) World Wide Name (WWN), enabling multiple virtual machines to share a single physical host bus adapter (HBA) and switch port.

Note: NPIV is an optional advanced feature.

NPIV implementation requirements
To enable NPIV, ensure that the following hardware and software requirements are met.
Server Administrator tasks
This section describes server administrator tasks while you configure N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV).
Storage Administrator tasks
This section describes the storage administrator tasks for configuring N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV).
Verifying NPIV configuration
When you configure NPIV and turn on the virtual machine, the NPIV is functioning. To verify that I/O traffic is going through the virtual port (depending on the host HBA), you must create a Secure Shell connection to the physical ESX(i) Server.
Snapshots with NPIV
The Volume Shadow Copy Service and Virtual Disk Service automatically detect whether the NPIV is enabled. If the NPIV is enabled and correctly functioning, the Volume Shadow Copy Service and Virtual Disk Service take the appropriate actions during the various snapshot stages.

Parent topic: Configuring in a VMware environment