Setup Guide

Device mapping
Device mapping allows you to map individual N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) devices to N_Ports. By mapping device WWNs directly to
an N_Port group, traffic from the device will always go to the same N_Port group, independently of the F_Port where the device logs in.
When the Port Grouping and Device Load Balancing policies are enabled for a port group, WWNs mapped to that port group are
automatically balanced among the online N_Ports in that group (refer to Port Grouping policy modes on page 55).
NOTE
Port Grouping policy is not supported when both Automatic Login Balancing and Device Load Balancing are enabled.
Device mapping does not affect or replace the traditional port mapping. Device mapping is optional and is in addition to the existing port
mapping. In general, it is recommended that you map devices to N_Port groups rather than map devices to individual N_Ports within a
port group. Group mapping ensures maximum device up-time during failover conditions and system power up. Connections occur more
quickly when a large number of devices must connect to the same fabric through a single port group.
The following aspects of device mapping are important to note:
∙ Device mapping has priority over port mapping. That is, logins from a device mapped to a specific N_Port group or N_Port
always have priority over unmapped devices that log in to an F_Port that has been mapped to the same N_Port group or
N_Port.
∙ Current device routing (dynamic mapping) may turn out different than your intended mapping (static mapping), depending on
which N_Ports are online and which policies are enabled, for example, Automatic Port Configuration, Device Load Balancing,
Failover, or Failback. Therefore, it is recommended to map devices to N_Port groups instead of specific N_Ports within a port
group when using device mapping.
NOTE
Automatic Port Configuration and Device Load Balancing cannot be enabled at the same time.
The following figure illustrates an example of device mapping to port groups. In the example, WWNs 1, 2, and 3 can connect to any
N_Port in Port Group 1 (PG1), while WWNs 4 and 5 can connect with any N_Port in Port Group 2 (PG2).
Configuring Ports in Access Gateway Mode
Brocade Fabric OS Access GatewayAdministration Guide
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