Using Soft WWNs for Fibre Channel Ports

In this topic:

Enabling the soft WWN feature

Replacing an HBA using the soft WWN feature

Disabling the soft WWN feature

Enabling the Soft WWN Feature

The soft WWN feature enables Fibre Channel (FC) ports to be identified using a substitute World Wide Name (WWN). Multi-port cards have more than one Fibre Channel port, meaning that there will be more than one WWN for multi-port HBAs.

When soft WWNs are used, FC HBAs can be replaced without having to unserve virtual disks and then reserve virtual disks to hosts again using the WWNs of the new HBAs.  In the event of an HBA failure or replacement, the same soft WWN of the ports and node will be used for the new HBA.

The port must be re-initialized for the feature to be enabled.

To enable:

  1. In the Fibre Channel Port Details page>Settings tab, click Advanced Options.
  2. Select the Use soft WWN check box at the bottom of the page to activate the Port name and Node name boxes.
  3. A default number (the server WWN) is initially assigned to the Port name and Node name boxes. Change the default WWNs to unique 16 character hexadecimal numbers.
  4. Click Apply.
  5. Click Yes on the message to re-initialize the port.

Replacing an HBA the Uses Soft WWNs

  1. Open the Fibre Channel Port Details page for the FC port to be replaced. Make a note of the Port Name and Node Name used for the soft WWN.
  2. Shut down the DataCore Server, replace the HBA, and power on the DataCore Server.
  3. In Device Manager, expand DataCore Fibre Channel Adapters and verify that the new adapter appears in the list.
  4. If using a switch, add the replacement port to the same switch zones that contains the port being replaced and the initiator ports. The initiators will login to the replacement port.
  5. In the SANsymphony Management Console, in DataCore Servers Panel, right-click the removed port and select Replace Port

    The adapter that was physically removed will still be listed in the configuration and display an error in the DataCore Servers Panel.

  6. In the Replace Port dialog box, select the new port to use from the list.
  7. Click Replace. All paths assigned to the original port will be moved to the new port. If the card is a multi-port adapter, repeat the steps above for all ports.
  8. In DataCore Servers Panel, right-click on the port that was physically removed and select Delete Port to remove it from the configuration. Repeat this step for multi-port adapters.
  9. In the Fibre Channel Port Details page for the new port, select the Use soft WWN check box and enter the same Port Name and Node Name of the original port.
  10. Click Apply.
  11. Click Yes on the message to re-initialize the port.
  12. In DataCore Servers Panel>Servers Ports, right-click the new port and choose Rescan.
  13. In the Ribbon>Common Actions tab, click Refresh All.

Disabling the Soft WWN Feature

  1. In the Fibre Channel Port Details page>Settings tab, click Advanced Options.
  2. Clear the Use soft WWN check box at the bottom of the page.
  3. Click Apply.