Fibre Channel Properties

Fibre Channel Properties dialog box is available from the context menu when you select a particular port in the left pane of the Fibre-Channel Manager tool. There are three tabs: General, Basic, and Advanced. The General tab shows information; configuration is performed in the Basic and Advanced tabs.

The General tab shows identification information as well as current operational parameters:

SANmelody channelpropgen Fibre Channel Properties

Basic Tab

SANmelody channelpropbasic Fibre Channel Properties

 

Feature

Description

SCSI Mode

Initiator, Target, Initiator/Target, or Default.

Default puts the port in the preferred default mode for the HBA.

Symbolic Port Name

The alias of the port and is not configurable here. You can change the name by selecting Rename from the context menu when a channel is selected.

Symbolic Node Name

The alias of the storage server.

Use Soft World Wide Names

Check this box to substitute the original WWN of the port with a WWN that you specify. You can change both the Port Name and the Node Name. Refer to Using Soft WWNs for Fibre Channels.

Advanced Tab

Do not change these settings unless under the guidance of Technical Support.  

SANmelody fcpropsadvtab Fibre Channel Properties

 

Feature

Description

Use Hard ID

Use Hard ID: Assigns the Loop ID of the port. Then specify the Hard ID in the Hard Assigned ID field. (Note:You can bind to a port ID by additionally selecting Loop Only in the Connection Mode field. This fixes the Loop ID of the port.)

If you choose this option, when you re-initialize, SANmelody software will use this ID. However, if another element in the SAN is bound to this ID, re-initialization will fail.

Do not use Hard ID: Allows the port to negotiate the Loop ID.

Default: Allows the port to choose the optimal Loop ID.

Hard Assigned ID

If a hard ID is being used, the number is displayed.

Connection Mode

Depending on the capabilities of the port, you will have these connection mode options to set the preferred topology for the port:

Default

Point to Point Only

Loop Only

Loop Preferred, Otherwise P2P

P2P Preferred, Otherwise Loop

Data Rate Mode

Sets the link speed: 1, 2, or 4 GB per second

Auto Sense:  The port sets the data rate by sensing the current data rate on the link  (if the port has this feature).

Default: The port sets the data rate.

Login Mode

Reserved for troubleshooting purposes. Do not change without the assistance of Technical Support.

Max Outstanding Initiator Commands

Limits the number of initiator commands active at the same time.

Max Outstanding Target Commands

Limits the number of target commands active at the same time.

Port Offline Timeout

Controls the delay in seconds before a port is considered offline and will be logged off.

Disable Port While Stopped

Certain application server operating systems (such as VMware or Linux) which are running multi-pathing software require that the Disable Port While Stopped setting be enabled in order to properly handle path failures. Selecting this option enables failover. This property is valid only when the port is set to “Target-only” mode. When enabled (the default setting), a Fibre Channel port will be offlined and logged out of the fabric when the SANmelody storage server is not running.

When this property is enabled and SANmelody software is stopped, the HBAs will be displayed in the Fibre Channel Manager with a red X. This is expected since the HBA is essentially stopped until the software is started. If a restart had taken place and the software has never started, then not only will the HBA have a red X, but it will show a generic label of FCP Port N. Once the software starts, the generic name will be replaced with the symbolic name and the red X is no longer displayed.

 

Fibre Channel Properties