Tech Note: Using Brocade Access Gateway Device-Based Mapping in VMware ESX Server Environments (June 2010)

DATA CENTER TECH NOTE

Using Brocade Access Gateway Device-Based Mapping in VMware ESX Server Environments Page 3 of 3

Once ESX Server reverts to using the physical port ID, it does not revert back to using the virtual port ID

unless the virtual port is rebooted. As shown in Figure 4, when the primary fabric link is back online, the ESX

Server is still using its physical port ID for all I/O traffic.

Figure 4. Primary link back online, virtual port B fails back to its designated fabric port

NOTE: When the behavior is exhibited, the virtual machine’s WWN is properly logged into the fabric, that is,

it appears in the output of ag –show and ag –wwnmapshow as well as on the core switch. The output

from the portPerfShow command shows all traffic on the port to which the ESX Server’s physical port is

mapped (on base PID).

RECOMMENDED CONFIGURATION

The recommended configuration for setting up the ESX Server to use AG device-based mapping is:

1. Make sure that the virtual port name (V WWPN) of VMs are mapped to the right N_Port group or N_Port on AG,

and define a map for all virtual ports.

2. Make sure that all V WWPNs are mapped for LUN access (for array-based targets).

3. Make sure to have all V WWPNs in the zone configuration.

4. Reboot VMs.

5. Verify that traffic originates from virtual port PIDs. If configuration is correct, traffic will flow from VM PIDs.

Path usage within the ESX Server CLI can be shown by running the command:

vmkmultipath –q

NOTE: It is important that the ESX Server’s physical port is also able to connect to the storage so that no VM will be

left without access to its storage targets. Even following the above steps it is possible to run into the observed

behavior. In order to force the traffic back onto the virtual port’s path it seems to be necessary to reboot the VM.

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