Enabling NPIV on an existing system

Enabling N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) on an existing system requires that you complete several preparatory steps before you enable NPIV.

Note: A version 7.7.0 or later system with NPIV enabled as backend storage for a system that is earlier than version 7.7.0 is not supported.

Prerequisites

If you are changing the target port mode for an I/O group in an existing system, complete that the following prerequisite steps:

Ensure that your system is at version 7.7.0 or later.
Review your SAN fabric layout and zoning rules because NPIV has stricter requirements. Ensure that equivalent ports are on the same fabric and in the same zone. For more information, see the topic about zoning details.
Check the path count between your hosts and the system. Make sure that the number of paths is half of the usual supported maximum. For more information, see the topic about zoning details.
Ensure that Fibre Channel switches permit each physically connected system port the ability to create two additional NPIV ports.

Using the management GUI

After you have completed these prerequisite steps, you can enable port virtualization on an existing system by completing these steps:

In the management GUI, select Settings > System > I/O Groups.
Verify that the value for the Target Port Mode attribute is set to Enabled. For new systems, the default status for NPIV is set to enabled. However, if you are adding a node to an existing system, verify this setting. If it is set to either Transitional or Disabled, it must be changed to Enabled.
If the Target Port Mode is disabled, complete these steps to change it to enabled:
1. Right-click the I/O group and select Change Target Port Mode.
2. On the Change Target Port Mode page, select Transitional for the new state. Users cannot go directly from disabled to enabled state. The system must be in a transitional state where the I/O group contains both physical and virtual Fibre Channel ports. Click Continue.
3. Wait approximately 2 minutes before you verify the changed state for the target ports.
4. Verify that the new Transitional state is displayed on the I/O Groups page.
5. Right-click the I/O group and select Change Target Port Mode.
6. On the Change Target Port Mode page, select Enabled for the new state. Click Continue.
7. After 2 minutes, verify that the new Enabled state is displayed on the I/O Groups page.
If the Target Port Mode is already in the Transitional state, complete these steps to change the state to Enabled by completing these steps:
1. Right-click the I/O group and select Change Target Port Mode.
2. On the Change Target Port Mode page, select Enabled for the new state. Click Continue.
3. Wait approximately 2 minutes before you verify that the new Enabled state is displayed on the I/O Groups page.

Using the command-line interface

For new systems, the default status for NPIV is set to enabled. However, if you are adding a node to an existing system, you should verify this setting. To verify the NPIV settings on an existing system in the command-line interface, complete the following steps:

Enter the following command to verify the NPIV setting on the system:
```
lsiogrp
```
The fctargetportmode parameter indicates NPIV setting for the I/O group. If the setting is enabled, the system is configured for NPIV. If the fctargetportmode is disabled or transitional, complete the following steps to enable the NPIV:
1. If the fctargetportmode parameter is unavailable, you must change the fctargetportmode parameter to transitional first. The system cannot go directly from disabled to enabled state. The system must be in a transitional state where the I/O group contains both physical and virtual Fibre Channel ports. To enable transitional mode, enter the following command:
```
chiogrp -fctargetportmode transitional io_group_id_or_name
```
  Where io_group_id_or_name is the ID or name of the I/O group.
2. Ensure that the hosts are using the NPIV ports for host I/O. To verify that you are logged in to these hosts with these NPIV ports, enter the following command:
```
lsfabric -host host_id_or_name
```
  Where host_id_or_name is the ID or name of the host. If I/O activity is occurring, each host has at least one line in the command output that corresponds to a host port and shows active in the activity field.
  Note:
  - Hosts where no I/O was issued in the past 5 minutes do not show active for any login.
  - Hosts that do not adhere to preferred paths might still be processing I/O to primary ports.
3. Wait a minimum of 15 minutes before you move from transitional to enabled state. To change the NPIV setting to enabled, enter the following command:
```
chiogrp -fctargetportmode enabled
```
Wait approximately 2 minutes before you enter the following command to verify that NPIV is enabled:
```
lsiogrp
```
Verify that the fctargetportmode parameter is enabled.