HP StorageWorks C-Series Fabric Switches for SAN-OS 3.2(2c) and FabricWare 2.1(3) (AA-RWEHK-TE, December 2007)

5 MDS Multilayer Director & Multilayer Fabric Switches Release Notes
N-Port Virtualization (NPV) Mode
N-Port Virtualization (NPV) Mode is a software feature that can be optionally enabled on the C-
Series MDS 9124 and the MDS 9124e Fabric Switches. Switches operating in NPV mode do not
join a fabric; rather, they pass traffic between NPV core switch links and end devices.
NPV technology addresses the increase in the number of domain IDs needed to deploy a large
number of ports by making the MDS 9124 and the MDS 9124e behave as a host to the core FC
switch. NPV aggregates multiple locally connected N-ports into one or more external NP link(s),
which share the domain ID of the NPV core switch. NPV also allows multiple devices to attach
to the same port on the NPV core switch, thereby reducing the need for more ports on the core
switch. NPV makes use of N-port ID virtualization (NPIV) to receive multiple FCIDs allocated
from the core switch on the NP port. Refer to the Cisco MDS 9000 Family Configuration Guide
for instructions on how to configure NPV.
In addition to being supported in Cisco fabrics, NPV is supported for connectivity to B-Series and
M-Series fabrics. Refer to the hp StorageWorks Fabric Interoperability: Merging Fabrics Based
on C-Series and B-Series Fibre Channel Switches and hp StorageWorks Fabric Interoperability:
Merging Fabric Based on C-Series and M-Series Fibre Channel Switches for specific supported
B-Series and M-Series software versions.
Hardware Components
The following Cisco MDS 9000 Family hardware components are not supported by HP:
• Cache Services Module (CSM)
• Advanced Services Module (ASM)
Additional Mounting Requirements
C-Series Fabric Switches can be installed in all HP standard racks. Please note the following
restrictions:
Side-Rail Rack-Mounted Options
All side-rail rack-mounted options must have a minimum of four (4) inch clearance distance
above or below the switch chassis for the C-Series MDS 9500 Series Multilayer Directors and
MDS 9200 Series Multilayer Fabric Switches. Side-rail rack-mount options include HP zero-U
options, KVM switches and power distribution units (PDUs). The minimum distance between the
top of the switch to the bottom of any side rail rack mounted option, or the bottom of the switch
and the top of the side rail rack mounted option must be at least four (4) inches.
HP Rack Cabinet Support
For standard HP Rack Cabinets with closed side panels, you must have at least two-and-one-half
inches (2.5 in.) (6.4 cm) of air space between the rack walls and the MDS chassis air vents. If the
air space does not meet this minimum requirement, remove the rack side panels.