Technical data

Fabric OS Administrator’s Guide A-15

Publication Number: 53-0000518-09

Performing PID Format Changes

There are several routine maintenance procedures which might result in a device receiving a new PID.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Changing compatibility mode settings

• Changing switch domain IDs

• Merging fabrics

• Relocating devices to new ports or new switches (that is, for Add, Move, Change type operations)

• Updating the core PID format

• Using hot spare switch ports to deal with failures

In every case where devices employ static PID binding, any such procedure becomes difficult or

impossible to execute without downtime.

In some cases, device drivers allow you to specify static PID binding. In these cases, such devices must

be identified and their PID binding should be changed to WWN binding.

The following sections contain a basic procedure that summarizes the steps necessary to perform PID

format changes without disrupting the fabric, and special procedures for HP/UX and AIX.

Basic Procedure

This process should be executed as part of the overall online or offline update process. However, it can

be implemented in a stand-alone manner on a non-production fabric, or a switch that has not yet joined

a fabric.

1. Ensure that all switches in the fabric are running Fabric OS versions that support the addressing

mode. It is recommended that you use v2.6.2 for SilkWorm 2000 series switches, v3.1.2 for

SilkWorm 3200 and 3800 switches, v4.2.0 for SilkWorm 12000 and 24000 directors, as well as

SilkWorm 3016, 3250, 3850, and 3900 switches, and v5.0.1 for SilkWorm 48000.

2. Telnet into one of the switches in the fabric.

3. Disable the switch by entering the switchDisable command.

4. Enter the configure command (the configure prompts display sequentially).

5. Enter y after the “Fabric parameters” prompt.

6. Enter 1 at the “Core Switch PID Format” prompt.

7. Complete the remaining prompts or press Ctrl-d to accept the remaining settings without

completing all the prompts.

8. Repeat steps 2 through 7 for the remaining switches in the fabric.

9. Reenable the switch by entering the switchEnable command.

ote

All switches running any version of Fabric OS 4.0.0 and later are shipped with the Core Switch PID

Format enabled, so it is not necessary to perform the PID format change on these switches.