What Is And How NPV Works Basics Of SAN Switch Part 6

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What Is NPV In SAN Switch
What is NPV In SAN Switch? NPV stands for N_Port Virtualization. This is SAN Switch level features. NPV enabled to switch to act as a proxy switch and bypass all FC services requests to its up-link switch. NPV is a Cisco Specific term other vendor calls it a different name. In terms of Brocade, its called as Access Gateway Switch.
storage-admin.com/what-is-npv...
How NPV Works In SAN Switch
In order to understand how NPV works, we should understand what happens when a new SAN switch connects to the fabric. In usual case when a SAN switch is connected to a fabric its gets Domain ID and participate in Fabric Services like assigning FCID to the initiator.
Now in case of NPV If the SAN switch is NPV enabled then it will not have any Domain ID and does not participate in any FC services. Whatever Device connected to NPV enabled switch such as host, switch or UCS or any device gets FC services from its up-link switch.
Use Of NPV SAN Switch Network
There are various ways to use NPV in the SAN switch. Below are some examples where we can use NPV. One of the rare use of NPV is if Fabric requires more then 239 switches or there is a limitation of Domain ID. For each switch in fabric it requires a domain ID.
Now as the fabric grows the number of SAN switches also grows and as a result Domain ID also grows. If the number of switches reaches 239 domain id also reaches 239. In such a scenario if more switches require then NPV is a solution to add more switches to the fabric.
Another practical use of NPV is multi-vendor SAN switches in the same fabric. If you have a SAN fabric with switches of multiple vendors then NPV is necessary. For example, you can connect a Cisco Core switch with a Brocade SAN switch. Note both switches must be interoperability mode.
You can also use NPV for migrating SAN switches from one vendor to another. We can use NPV as a pre-deployment stage for SAN switch migration from one vendor switch to another.

[@aneeshpa8470]

I think access gateway is the equivalent terminology in Brocade , please correct me if I am wrong

[@saNasTech]

You Are absolutely correct Aneesh

[@shaneoliver7433]

I want to thank you for posting these videos - 2+ years later and they are still useful, As I haven't gone through all you SAN videos as yet - but I will I am hoping there is one on the process to migrate from Cisco to Brocade (Am currently doing it - so far only have the two environments joined and passing traffic / configs) Oh and for anyone reading this if you are converting from Cisco to Brocade be vary careful of hyphens "-" in the cisco configs as they seem to break things - I have to run the Cisco to replace the config and - to _

[@yashsharma-te2tv]

just want to thank you for posting these videos. I have a tendency to go through your videos before appearing for interviews and it has helped me a lot..:)

[@saNasTech]

Good to know that my videos helped you.

[@ashokgunji2284]

Really it's new for me, good explanation

[@mohamadhashemi1429]

thanks, great Explanation. much appreciated.

[@DiscoverEase03]

Hey I find your videos and explanation so helpful as an beginner to this environment it would be more helpful to give a brief explanation or dedicated playlist on CISCO and BROCADE switches separately and also dell emc unity .Thank you !!!!!

[@naveenkumar-ip7gs]

Excellent bro .... This is new topic for me.... Please upload some more videos like this.

[@saNasTech]

Thanks Naveen Sure we do the same in future

[@priteshugrankar6815]

Fantastic video!! I think NPV is useful in case of blade servers which have embedded SAN switches for example virtual connect in HPE C7000 Blade servers. If we have a lot of Blade Servers there will definitely be more than 239 switches and NPV is quite useful in that case.

[@saNasTech]

Great point!

[@HarshAsh]

Hi,
Thanks for your videos and it was really helpful. I have a requirement to migrate the SAN from Brocade to CISCO MDS 9710 director. Requesting you to share a video with detailed steps involved.

[@ajithuthup6506]

@san&nasTechie Requesting attention ⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
Please make a video on migration steps from one SAN switch vendor to another.
I hope most of your subscribers are awaiting a video from you on this topic.

[@chai_sutta_travels3119]

I have a question in mind after watching this video, not sure if i missed it somehow... but will be great if you can clarify this.... Will the NPV enabled switch maintain its own name serve database ?

[@kirtishiv9523]

Sir please share knowledge on peer zoning

[@prashantwakchaure5234]

All videos are great. Do you pdf or doc of all these concepts?

[@saNasTech]

That's a good idea will try to implement it. As of now, I do have a website called storage-admin.com/ where you can get all these stuff in a documented format.

[@prashantwakchaure5234]

san&nasTechie can you please give more details on difference between zoning, lun masking and lun mapping.

[@abdelouahabbenachour4307]

thanks; how interconect brocade with mds

[@saNasTech]

Its complex and long process. You can get some idea from below link
www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/storage-networking/mds-9700-series-multilayer-directors/white-paper-c11-732037.html

[@saNasTech]

Its complex and long process. You can get some idea from below link
www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/storage-networking/mds-9700-series-multilayer-directors/white-paper-c11-732037.html

[@ranjithjaddu9202]

NPIV for brocade

[@kingroc3651]

NO, for Brocade it's AG (Access Gateway)