Virtual port world wide names

摘要

A network switch allows defining a virtual port worldwide name (VPWWN) and associating the VPWWN with an F_port of the network switch, for use by a host bus adaptor (HBA) connecting to the network switch. Both a default and a user VPWWN may be defined, with the user VPWWN typically taking precedence over the default VPWWN. A database of VPWWN associations may be used to ensure uniqueness of the user VPWWN. Where the HBA allows dynamic assignment of WWNs, the VPWWN may be pushed to the HBA. The VPWWNs may be deleted, and moved to another port as desired.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
associating a first worldwide port name with a fabric port of a first network switch; receiving a second worldwide port name from a user of the first network switch; associating the second worldwide port name with the fabric port; selecting one of the first worldwide port name and the second worldwide port name as a selected worldwide port name; and communicating between a network device connected to the fabric port and other devices in a network switch fabric using the selected worldwide port name, comprising:
mapping by the network switch the selected worldwide port name to a predefined name for a node port of a network device;using the selected worldwide port name instead of the predefined name for communicating across a network fabric comprising the first network switch and the network device.