User's Manual

Using FlexAddress 173
6
Using FlexAddress
The FlexAddress feature is an optional upgrade introduced in CMC 1.1 that
allows server modules to replace the factory assigned World Wide Name and
Media Access Control (WWN/MAC) network IDs with WWN/MAC IDs
provided by the chassis.
Every server module is assigned unique WWN and MAC IDs as part of the
manufacturing process. Before FlexAddress, if you had to replace one server
module with another, the WWN/MAC IDs would change and Ethernet
network management tools and SAN resources would need to be reconfigured
to be aware of the new server module.
FlexAddress allows the CMC to assign WWN/MAC IDs to a particular slot
and override the factory IDs. If the server module is replaced, the slot-based
WWN/MAC IDs remain the same. This feature eliminates the need to
reconfigure Ethernet network management tools and SAN resources for a new
server module.
Additionally, the override action only occurs when a server module is inserted
in a FlexAddress enabled chassis; no permanent changes are made to the
server module. If a server module is moved to a chassis that does not support
FlexAddress, the factory assigned WWN/MAC IDs will be used.
Prior to installing FlexAddress, you can determine the range of MAC
addresses contained on a FlexAddress feature card by inserting the SD card
into an USB Memory Card Reader and viewing the file pwwn_mac.xml. This
clear text XML file on the SD card will contain an XML tag mac_start that is
the first starting hex MAC address that will be used for this unique MAC
address range. The mac_count tag is the total number of MAC addresses that
the SD card allocates. The total MAC range allocated can be determined by:
<mac_start> + 0xCF (208 - 1) = mac_end
For example:(starting_mac)00188BFFDCFA + 0xCF =
(ending_mac)00188BFFDDC9
NOTE: You should lock the SD card prior to inserting in the USB "Memory Card
Reader" to prevent accidently modifying any of the contents. You MUST UNLOCK
the SD card before inserting into the CMC.