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Contents
- Configuring Named VSANs
- Named VSANs
- Fibre Channel Uplink Trunking for Named VSANs
- Guidelines and Recommendations for VSANs
- Creating a Named VSAN
- Creating a Storage VSAN
- Deleting a VSAN
- Changing the VLAN ID for the FCoE Native VLAN
- Enabling Fibre Channel Uplink Trunking
- Disabling Fibre Channel Uplink Trunking
Configuring Named VSANs
This chapter includes the following sections:
- Named VSANs
- Fibre Channel Uplink Trunking for Named VSANs
- Guidelines and Recommendations for VSANs
- Creating a Named VSAN
- Creating a Storage VSAN
- Deleting a VSAN
- Changing the VLAN ID for the FCoE Native VLAN
- Enabling Fibre Channel Uplink Trunking
- Disabling Fibre Channel Uplink Trunking
Named VSANs
A named VSAN creates a connection to a specific external SAN. The VSAN isolates traffic to that external SAN, including broadcast traffic. The traffic on one named VSAN knows that the traffic on another named VSAN exists, but cannot read or access that traffic.
Like a named VLAN, the name that you assign to a VSAN ID adds a layer of abstraction that allows you to globally update all servers associated with service profiles that use the named VSAN. You do not need to reconfigure the servers individually to maintain communication with the external SAN. You can create more than one named VSAN with the same VSAN ID.
Named VSANs in Cluster Configurations
In a cluster configuration, a named VSAN can be configured to be accessible only to the Fibre Channel uplink ports on one fabric interconnect or to the Fibre Channel uplink ports on both fabric interconnects.
Named VSANs and the FCoE VLAN ID
You must configure each named VSAN with an FCoE VLAN ID. This property determines which VLAN is used for transporting the VSAN and its Fibre Channel packets.
For FIP capable, converged network adapters, such as the Cisco UCS CNA M72KR-Q and the Cisco UCS CNA M72KR-E, the named VSAN must be configured with a named VLAN that is not the native VLAN for the FCoE VLAN ID. This configuration ensures that FCoE traffic can pass through these adapters.
In the following sample configuration, a service profile with a vNIC and vHBA mapped to fabric A is associated with a server that has FIP capable, converged network adapters:
Fibre Channel Uplink Trunking for Named VSANs
You can configure Fibre Channel uplink trunking for the named VSANs on each fabric interconnect. If you enable trunking on a fabric interconnect, all named VSANs in a Cisco UCS instance are allowed on all Fibre Channel uplink ports on that fabric interconnect.
Guidelines and Recommendations for VSANs
The following guidelines and recommendations apply to all named VSANs, including storage VSANs.
VSAN 4079 is a Reserved VSAN ID
Do not configure a VSAN as 4079. This VSAN is reserved and cannot be used in either FC switch mode or FC end-host mode.
If you create a named VSAN with ID 4079, Cisco UCS Manager marks that VSAN with an error and raises a fault.
Range Restrictions for Named VSAN IDs in FC End-Host Mode
If you plan to use FC end-host mode in a Cisco UCS instance, do not configure VSANs with an ID in the range from 3840 to 4079.
VSANs in that range are not operational if the following conditions exist in a Cisco UCS instance:
The fabric interconnects are configured to operate in FC end-host mode.
The Cisco UCS instance is configured with Fibre Channel trunking or SAN port channels.
If these configurations exist, Cisco UCS Manager does the following:
Renders all VSANs with an ID in the range from 3840 to 4079 non-operational.
Raises a fault against the non-operational VSANs.
Transfers all non-operational VSANs to the default VSAN.
Transfers all vHBAs associated with the non-operational VSANs to the default VSAN.
If you disable Fibre Channel trunking and delete any existing SAN port channels, Cisco UCS Manager returns all VSANs in the range from 3840 to 4078 to an operational state and restores any associated vHBAs back to those VSANs.
Range Restrictions for Named VSAN IDs in FC Switch Mode
If you plan to use FC switch mode in a Cisco UCS instance, do not configure VSANs in the range from 3040 to 4078.
When a fabric interconnect operating in FC switch mode is connected to MDS as the upstream switch, VSANs configured in Cisco UCS Manager in the range from 3040 to 4078 and assigned as port VSANs cannot be created in MDS. This configuration results in a possible port VSAN mismatch.
Creating a Named VSAN
Procedure
Creating a Storage VSAN
Procedure
Step 1 In the Navigation pane, click the SAN tab. Step 2 On the SAN tab, expand . Step 3 In the Work pane, click the VSANs tab. Step 4 On the icon bar to the right of the table, click +. If the + icon is disabled, click an entry in the table to enable it.
Step 5 In the Create VSAN dialog box, complete the following fields:
Name Description Name field
The name assigned to the network.
This name can be between 1 and 16 alphanumeric characters. You cannot use spaces or any special characters, and you cannot change this name after the object has been saved.
Default Zoning field
Whether default zoning is enabled for this VSAN.
You cannot change the zoning after the object has been saved.
Type radio button
Click the radio button to determine how the VSAN should be configured. You can choose:
Common/Global—The VSAN maps to the same VSAN ID in all available fabrics.
Fabric A—The VSAN maps to the a VSAN ID that exists only in fabric A.
Fabric B—The VSAN maps to the a VSAN ID that exists only in fabric B.
Both Fabrics Configured Differently—The VSAN maps to a different VSAN ID in each available fabric. If you choose this option, Cisco UCS Manager GUI displays a VSAN ID field and a FCoE VLAN field for each fabric.
VSAN ID field
The unique identifier assigned to the network.
The ID can be between 1 and 4093.
FCoE VLAN field
The unique identifier assigned to the VLAN used for Fibre Channel connections.
For FIP capable, converged network adapters, such as the Cisco UCS CNA M72KR-Q and the Cisco UCS CNA M72KR-E, the named VSAN must be configured with a named VLAN that is not the native VLAN for the FCoE VLAN ID. This configuration ensures that FCoE traffic can pass through these adapters.
Step 6 Click OK. Cisco UCS Manager GUI adds the VSAN to one of the following VSANs nodes:
Deleting a VSAN
ProcedureIf Cisco UCS Manager includes a named VSAN with the same VSAN ID as the one you delete, the VSAN is not removed from the fabric interconnect configuration until all named VSANs with that ID are deleted.
Step 1 In the Navigation pane, click the SAN tab. Step 2 In the SAN tab, click the SAN node. Step 3 In the Work pane, click the VSANs tab. Step 4 Click one of the following subtabs, depending upon what type of VSAN you want to delete:
Subtab Description All
Displays all VSANs in the Cisco UCS instance.
Dual Mode
Displays the VSANs that are accessible to both fabric interconnects.
Switch A
Displays the VSANs that are accessible to only fabric interconnect A.
Switch B
Displays the VSANs that are accessible to only fabric interconnect B.
Step 5 In the table, click the VSAN you want to delete. You can use the Shift key or Ctrl key to select multiple entries.
Step 6 Right-click the highlighted VSAN or VSANs and choose Delete. Step 7 If Cisco UCS Manager GUI displays a confirmation dialog box, click Yes.
Enabling Fibre Channel Uplink Trunking
Procedure
Note
If the fabric interconnects are configured for Fibre Channel end-host mode, enabling Fibre Channel uplink trunking renders all VSANs with an ID in the range from 3840 to 4079 non-operational.
Step 1 In the Navigation pane, click the SAN tab. Step 2 On the SAN tab, expand . Step 3 Click the node for the fabric where you want to enable FC uplink trunking. Step 4 In the Work pane, click the General tab. Step 5 In the Actions area, click Enable FC Uplink Trunking. Step 6 If Cisco UCS Manager GUI displays a confirmation dialog box, click Yes.
Disabling Fibre Channel Uplink Trunking
Procedure
Step 1 In the Navigation pane, click the SAN tab. Step 2 On the SAN tab, expand . Step 3 Click the node for the fabric where you want to disable Fibre Channel uplink trunking. Step 4 In the Work pane, click the General tab. Step 5 In the Actions area, click Disable FC Uplink Trunking. Step 6 If Cisco UCS Manager GUI displays a confirmation dialog box, click Yes.
