NIC Partitioning (NPAR). Qlogic 8200, 3200
Below you will find brief information for Converged Network Adapters 8200, Intelligent Ethernet Adapters 3200. This document provides detailed instructions on the installation, configuration, and troubleshooting of 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters for Windows®, Linux®, and VMware®. It also provides details on the use of QLogic adapter features to enhance the value of server virtualization using VMware ESX/ESXi 4.0.
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2–Configuring NIC
NIC Partitioning (NPAR)
NIC Partitioning (NPAR)
NIC Partitioning (NPAR) is a member of QLogic's VMflex™ family of features that enable advanced support for virtual environments. NPAR provides the ability to create multiple physical functions on the PCIe bus that share a single physical port. Each physical function is a PCI endpoint (PCIe) that can have a device driver attached to it.
The NPAR feature in 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters allows you to partition a single 10GbE NIC port into up to four individual partitions with user-configurable bandwidth and interface type (personality). The partitioning options are not limited to NIC as the name NPAR indicates; it extends to converged fabric partitioning by enabling you to assign iSCSI or FCoE protocols to certain partitions.
For example, each partition can be either native Ethernet NIC, or configured to support iSCSI or FCoE storage devices with different PCIe endpoint device class code. Both iSCSI and FCoE operate in full hardware offload mode.
The QLogic NPAR solution is OS and switch agnostic, which means NPAR does not require a proprietary switch to operate; however, the adapter does require the
OS-specific QLogic adapter driver for each supported protocol (NIC, iSCSI, and
FCoE). It also means NPAR bandwidth allocation can regulate only transmit traffic
(not receive traffic).
After you have configured the NIC partitions as desired on the 8200 and 3200
Series Adapters’ ports, you must reboot the server for the personality changes to take effect.
You can modify the minimum and maximum bandwidth for each NPAR. The changes take effect immediately without rebooting the server. The minimum and maximum bandwidths are specified as percentages of the link bandwidth, where:
Minimum bandwidth is the minimum bandwidth guaranteed to a partition.
Maximum bandwidth is the maximum value that a partition is permitted to use.
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Setup Requirements
provide the requirements for applying NPAR functionality to 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters installed in host servers within SANs.
Table 2-3. NPAR Operating System Requirements
Operating Systems Platforms
Linux
Citrix
®
Windows
RHEL5.6 and later, x86 and x64
RHEL6.0 and later, x64 only
SLES10 SP4 and later, x64 only
SLES11 SP1 and later, x64 only
XenServer
® 6.0 and later
Windows Server 2008 SP2, Windows Server 2008 R2
SP1
Hyper-V
® a
For the latest list of operating systems that support NPAR for QLogic Adapters, please check http://driverdownloads.qlogic.com
.
a
If a partitioned NIC is configured for use in a Hyper-V network virtualization stack, virtual message queue (VMQ) must be enabled. To enable VMQ on a management OS with physical network adapters less than 10Gbps, enter the following command in a command prompt window: reg add
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\VMSMP\Parameters /v
BelowTenGigVmqEnabled /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
Table 2-4. NPAR Management Tool and Driver Requirements
SW Components Description
Management Tools
QLogic OptionROM
QLogic QConvergeConsole GUI/CLI
QLogic Device Windows
Properties Page
Drivers
Flash image containing firmware and boot code
Management tools that can be utilized for NPAR configuration and management
Can be used for NPAR configuration and management in
Windows
Adapter drivers NIC, FCoE, and iSCSI drivers
Management tools and drivers are located on the QLogic Web site http://driverdownloads.qlogic.com
.
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NPAR Configuration
This section defines NPAR configuration, options, and management tools you can use to set up NPAR on the 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters.
In addition to defining NPAR, this section describes:
“NIC Partitioning Options” on page 2-40
“Personality Changes” on page 2-41
“Quality of Service” on page 2-42
“Configuration Management Tools” on page 2-44
NIC Partitioning Options
The NPAR feature in 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters provides the ability to create multiple PCIe physical functions for each physical 10 GbE port on the adapter.
Each PCIe function appears as an independent interface to the host operating system or hypervisor.
When the 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters are configured as Ethernet-only, each adapter contains eight Ethernet functions.
By default, NPAR functionality is disabled on the adapters, having only two
Ethernet functions enabled. Depending on the feature personality mapping supported on the adapter, you can enable additional Ethernet or storage functions.
The PCI function number assignment is as follows:
Functions 0 and 1 are always NIC, function 0 for port 0 and function 1 for port 1; any of the other functions can be individually enabled or disabled.
NIC, iSCSI, and FCoE have fixed function numbers.
Functions 2 and 3 can only be NIC personalities.
Functions 4 and 5 can be iSCSI or NIC personalities.
Functions 6 and 7 can be FCoE or NIC personalities.
You can configure only one iSCSI and one FCoE personality for each physical port.
The 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters support a maximum of 64 Layer-2 MAC address filters across all partitions, which limits the number of virtual network adapters that can be created on a partitioned NIC. The NIC driver evenly distributes the number of filters across all NIC partitions.
For example, if the NIC adapter has four NIC partitions, two NIC partitions per physical port, then each NIC partition gets 16 filters (64/4 = 16). In this case, do not create more than 16 virtual network adapters on any NIC function that is configured to be used by a Hyper-V network virtualization stack.
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The VLAN and teaming solutions on partitioned NIC functions have the following restrictions:
A failsafe team cannot be created using NIC functions that belong to the same physical port. For example, physical function 2 (PF2) cannot be a backup for PF0 because both functions are partitions of the same physical port.
802.3ad link aggregation teams are not allowed on partitioned NIC functions.
shows the default NPAR function settings.
Figure 2-22. NPAR Default Function Settings
Personality Changes
Based on your operating environment, you can use your preferred management tool to change or disable PCI functions on either physical port. Using this feature lets you divide each physical port into up to four partitions, configured to support one of the following PCI function types: NIC, FCoE, or iSCSI.
NOTE
Throughout this section, the terms personality and function type are used interchangeably.
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Table 2-5 shows the port identifications and the possible NPAR configurations.
Table 2-5. NPAR Configuration Options
Function
Number
Function Type
Physical Port
Number
Notes
2
3
0
1
NIC
NIC
NIC
NIC
0
1
0
1
Always present. Always
NIC. Cannot be disabled.
NIC or disabled
4
5 iSCSI/NIC iSCSI/NIC
0
1 iSCSI, NIC, or disabled
6 FCoE/NIC 0 FCoE, NIC, or disabled
7 FCoE/NIC 1
Only one iSCSI and/or FCoE function per physical port. NIC, iSCSI, and FCoE have fixed function numbers. Functions 2–7 can be independently disabled.
Quality of Service
Quality of service (QoS) refers to the bandwidth allocation assigned to each partition used to send and receive data between the adapter port and connected devices.
Each physical port on the 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters can send and receive data at up to 10Gbps in both directions at the same time. When the physical port is partitioned into four partitions, the port bandwidth is divided between each port partition according to traffic demands.
You can set QoS for each port partition by setting minimum and maximum percentages of the physical port's bandwidth for each partition. This feature helps guarantee a transmission rate for each partition that requires a particular bandwidth to run critical applications using port partitions. The setting for a given
QoS can resolve bottlenecks that exist when virtual machines (VMs) contend for port bandwidth.
Enhanced transition selection (ETS) controls the actual bandwidth allocation at the network port. The bandwidth allocation under ETS is typically 50 percent for
FCoE traffic and 50 percent for Non-FCoE traffic (NIC and iSCSI). Therefore,
NPAR QoS allocations among the NIC partitions for a given port allocate a percentage of the Non-FCoE portion of the bandwidth.
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eSwitch
NPAR QoS allows NIC partitions to each allocate a minimum guaranteed portion of the available bandwidth. QoS bandwidth applies only to NIC partitions. iSCSI partitions are not supported by the QoS bandwidth allocation. This brings up the possibility that, if the total minimum allocated bandwidth across the NIC partitions equals 100 percent, then the iSCSI partition will be limited to 1 percent of the NIC bandwidth portion in high-utilization conditions.
To ensure that iSCSI has more than 1 percent of bandwidth available in high-utilization conditions, set the total NPAR QoS minimum bandwidth settings so that they equal less than 100 percent.
Example
An NPAR enabled port has two NIC partitions, one iSCSI partition, and one
FCoE partition.
ETS allocates 50 percent of the network bandwidth to FCoE traffic and
50 percent to non-FCoE traffic.
The NPAR QoS minimum bandwidth setting for each NIC partition is
50 percent.
This setting means that each NIC partition is guaranteed 50 percent of
50 percent of 10Gb, or 2.5Gb each.
If at any time the FCoE partition is using 5Gb of bandwidth and each NIC partition is using 2.5Gb, then the iSCSI partition is left with only 50Mb of bandwidth.
If, however, the NIC partitions each allocated 45 percent of the non-FCoE traffic, then the total allocated bandwidth would be 90 percent.
The remaining 10 percent (or 500 Mb) would then be effectively reserved for the iSCSi partition.
The 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters support embedded switch (eSwitch) functionality, which provides a basic VLAN-aware Layer-2 switch for Ethernet frames. Each physical port has one instance of an eSwitch, which supports all
NPARs on that physical port.
The eSwitch operation is transparent and the administrator does not need to perform any specific configuration. The ability to view eSwitch statistics depends on your operating environment and management tool.
The QLogic drivers download the VM MAC addresses to the firmware, which enables the firmware and hardware to switch the packets destined for VMs on the host.
For traffic to flow from one eSwitch to another, it must first pass through an external switch or have been forwarded by a VM that has a path through both eSwitches.
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Configuration Management Tools
Depending on your operating environment and preferred system management techniques, you can use any of the following tools to set up NIC partitions
(NPARs) on 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters’ ports to meet your system’s networking requirements:
“QLogic OptionROM at POST” on page 2-44
“QConvergeConsole (QCC) GUI” on page 2-44
“QConvergeConsole (QCC) CLI” on page 2-45
“QLogic Device Windows Properties Page” on page 2-46
QLogic OptionROM at POST
The QLogic OptionROM is flashed on the 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters at the factory. When you first start the server that contains 8200 and 3200 Series
Adapters, the power-on self test (POST) starts. Running the POST test gives you access to the OptionROM utility.
For procedures on setting up NPAR and eSwitch parameters using the
OptionROM while powering up the host server, see “QLogic OptionROM at POST” on page 2-47 .
QConvergeConsole (QCC) GUI
The QConvergeConsole unified adapter Web management interface is a web-based client/server application that allows for centralized management and configuration of QLogic adapters within the entire network (LAN and SAN).
On the server side, the QConvergeConsole runs as an Apache Tomcat Server web application. After the application is launched on the web server, you can connect to the QConvergeConsole's GUI through a browser, either locally on the server or remotely from another computer. Your browser window becomes the client used to connect to servers that host the 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters and connected storage devices within the network.
In addition to the configuration and management tools available through the
QConvergeConsole GUI, the QCC enables you to partition and configure NIC ports and eSwitch parameters on 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters.
Follow the procedures in the QConvergeConsole User’s Guide to install the application on a Windows or Linux server. Before using the QCC GUI to configure
NPAR on your 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters, you must also install the drivers on the server where the 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters reside.
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Before configuring NPAR, do the following:
Use the QLogic SuperInstaller for your host server’s operating system
(Windows or Linux) to install the Fibre Channel/FCoE, NIC, and iSCSI drivers on the server where the adapters reside. To download the installers and drivers, go to http://driverdownloads.qlogic.com
.
Make sure the remote agents are running on the server where the adapters reside:
Fibre Channel/FCoE ( qlremote
)
NIC ( netqlremote
)
iSCSI ( iqlremote
)
For help using the QCC GUI, use the help system, available through the QCC GUI browser-based menu option Help > Browse Contents.
For procedures on setting up NPAR and eSwitch parameters using the QCC GUI,
see “QConvergeConsole (QCC) CLI” on page 2-55 .
QConvergeConsole (QCC) CLI
QConvergeConsole (QCC) CLI is a management utility that centralizes management and configuration of QLogic adapters within the entire network (LAN and SAN).
QCC manages iSCSI, Ethernet, and FCoE functions on 8200 and 3200 Series
Adapters installed in a Linux or Windows environment.
In addition to the configuration and management capabilities available through the
QConvergeConsole CLI, the QCC CLI enables you to partition and configure NIC ports and eSwitch parameters on 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters.
Follow the procedures for your operating system in the QConvergeConsole CLI
User’s Guide to install the application on the host server.
For command references needed while using QCC CLI, refer to the
QConvergeConsole CLI User’s Guide.
Before using QCC CLI to configure NPAR on your 8200 and 3200 Series
Adapters, you must install the OS-specific drivers on the server where the 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters reside. You can use the QLogic SuperInstaller for your host server’s operating system (Windows or Linux) to install the Fibre
Channel/FCoE, NIC, and iSCSI drivers. To download the drivers, go to http://driverdownloads.qlogic.com
.
For procedures on setting up NPAR and eSwitch parameters using the QCC CLI,
see “QConvergeConsole (QCC) CLI” on page 2-55 .
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QLogic Device Windows Properties Page
Servers that run on supported Windows operating systems have the
Windows-based tools available for configuring QLogic adapters. These tools enable you to use the QLogic Device Windows Properties Page to set up and manage NIC partitions.
For system requirements, see “Setup Requirements” on page 2-39 .
For procedures on using this native server management tool on a Windows
Server to configure NPAR on the 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters’ NIC ports, see
“QLogic Device Windows Properties Page” on page 2-61 .
NPAR Setup and Management Options
This section describes how to configure NIC partitions (NPARs) on 8200 and 3200
Series Adapters installed in a host server within a SAN. Procedures for establishing quality of service (QoS) for each partition and viewing the eSwitch parameters and statistics are included.
This section provides setup procedures using the following management tools:
“QLogic OptionROM at POST” on page 2-47
“QConvergeConsole (QCC) GUI” on page 2-51
“QConvergeConsole (QCC) CLI” on page 2-55
“QLogic Device Windows Properties Page” on page 2-61
NOTE
These procedures assume you have either local or remote access to a host server with at least one installed 8200 and 3200 Series Adapter, as well as the necessary drivers and management tools.
Overview
Depending on your operating environment and preferred system management techniques, you can use any of the tools described in this section to set up NIC partitions (NPARs) on 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters’ ports to meet your system’s networking requirements.
When you first start the server that contains the 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters, the power-on self test (POST) starts. Running POST gives you access to one of the configuration tools you can use to set up NIC partitions on 8200 and 3200
Series Adapters’ ports: QLogic OptionROM.
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The QConvergeConsole GUI and CLI tools work on both Linux and Windows
Servers. If you prefer using a browser-based GUI interface, you can use the
QConvergeConsole GUI to partition Ethernet ports into NIC, FCoE, or iSCSI partitions and establish quality of service (QoS) by adjusting the bandwidth settings. As an alternative, you can use QConvergeConsole CLI to set up partitions using a command line interface in either interactive or non-interactive mode.
On Windows host servers, you can use the QLogic Device Windows Properties
Page to set up and manage NIC partitions (for more information, see “QLogic
Device Windows Properties Page” on page 2-61
).
QLogic OptionROM at POST
When you first start the host server that contains 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters, the power-on self test (POST) starts. Running the POST test gives you access to the OptionROM utility.
To set up NPAR using OptionROM:
1.
When the screen prompts you to enter the setup menu (
) during the POST test, press Ctrl+Q to enter the OptionROM setup.
Figure 2-23. POST Test Screen Prompt to Enter Setup Menu
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2.
Select the adapter you want to manage on the QLogic CNA Function
Configuration screen.
The screen displays a list of functions available to the selected adapter
(
).
Figure 2-24. Function Configuration Screen
NOTE
For a list of NPAR configuration options, see
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3.
Move your cursor to the
Type
column for any function type you want to change (
).
Figure 2-25. Selecting NIC Function Type to Change
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Figure 2-26. Selecting iSCSI Function Type to Change
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2–Configuring NIC
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Figure 2-27. Selecting FCoE Function Type to Change
4.
Move your cursor to the MinBW% column to adjust the minimum bandwidth
(
) on each partition (between 0
-
100
%).
2-50
Figure 2-28. Adjusting the Minimum Bandwidth
NOTE
Do not set any bandwidth percentages for the FCoE function. The adapter uses the enhanced transmission selection (ETS) settings for determining FCoE bandwidth. The NIC bandwidth settings configured in the
are not a percentage of the line rate (10Gb): they are a percentage of the NIC bandwidth allocated to this NIC port through ETS on the switch.
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5.
Save your changes (
2–Configuring NIC
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Figure 2-29. Saving Configuration Changes
6.
Reboot the host server after completing NPAR configuration.
QConvergeConsole (QCC) GUI
The QConvergeConsole is a web-based client/server application that allows for centralized management and configuration of QLogic adapters within the entire network (LAN and SAN). On the server side, QConvergeConsole runs as an
Apache Tomcat Server web application. After the application is launched on the web server, you can connect to QConvergeConsole's GUI through a browser, either locally on the server or remotely from another computer. Your browser window becomes the client used to connect to servers that host the 8200 and
3200 Series Adapters and connected storage devices within the network.
You can use QCC GUI to configure and manage 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters installed on either Linux or Windows host servers.
For procedures on installing and starting this management tool, refer to the
QConvergeConsole User's Guide. For help configuring and managing the 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters using this management tool, refer to the
QConvergeConsole online help system.
To set up NIC partitions using the QCC GUI:
1.
2.
Set Up Quality of Service (QoS)
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Configure NIC Partitions
You can use QCC to configure and manage NPAR functions for both physical ports through the NIC Partitioning tab, available only on Port 1. You can enable or disable NPAR functions on either physical port and must reboot the operating system to apply the changes. When the NPAR function is enabled, each physical port divides its bandwidth function between four physical functions or physical
PCIe functions, configured to support one of the following function types: NIC,
FCoE, or iSCSI. QCC represents each function type as a personality.
For tables that show the default NPAR function settings, as well as the possible configurations, see
Table 2-5 shows the port identifications and the possible NPAR configurations.
To configure the NIC partitions and change personalities:
1.
Expand a 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters node in the QConvergeConsole system tree.
2.
Expand the physical Port 1 node and select the NIC port. The content pane displays two additional tabs that are not available on NIC ports for physical
Port 2.
3.
Select the NIC Partitioning tab. The NIC Partitioning Configuration page displays configuration details that apply to the selected NPAR configuration
and personality options ( Figure 2-30
).
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Figure 2-30. NIC Partitioning Configuration Page
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4.
Select the physical port you want to configure from the Physical Port drop-down list.
5.
If you want to change its function type, select the NIC partition and select the desired protocol from the Function Type drop-down list.
6.
Click Save to save any changes. The Security Check dialog box may appear. In the Enter Password box, type the password, and then click OK.
7.
Reboot the adapter host server to apply the changes.
8.
Verify that the configured ports have the most current drivers installed.
9.
If necessary, update the driver for the port protocol.
Set Up Quality of Service (QoS)
QConvergeConsole lets you set quality of service (QoS) for each partition by setting minimum and maximum percentages of the physical port's bandwidth for each partition.
NOTE
The NIC Partitioning page applies to NIC ports only for NPAR-enabled 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters.
To set the QoS:
1.
Expand a 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters node in the QConvergeConsole system tree.
2.
Expand the physical Port 1 node and select the NIC port. The content pane displays two additional tabs that are not available on NIC ports for physical
Port 2.
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3.
Select the NIC Partitioning tab, and then click the Management sub-tab.
The NIC Partitioning Management General page displays configuration details that apply to the selected NPAR (
).
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Figure 2-31. NIC Partitioning—General Management Page
4.
Click the down arrow and select the NIC partition (NPAR0, NPAR1, NPAR2, or NPAR3) from the drop-down list.
Information and configuration fields related to the selected NIC partition include:
Default MAC Address. The MAC address set at the manufacturer.
Location. The logical location in the system: PCI bus number, device number, and function number.
NPAR PCI Function Number. The function number (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7) of the eight PCIe function numbers claimed by the adapter.
NPAR Function Type. This field correlates to the personality of the selected NPAR (PCIe) function: NIC, iSCSI, or FCoE.
Minimum Bandwidth (%
).
Use the UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW keys to scroll between 0% to 100% to set the bandwidth you want to guarantee for data sent over the selected partition. Each additional percent increments the bandwidth by 100Mbps. For example, setting the minimum bandwidth to 5 percent guarantees sending and receiving data over the selected port at 500Mbps.
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Maximum Bandwidth (%). The maximum allowed bandwidth is specified as a percentage of the link speed. Use UP ARROW and
DOWN ARROW keys to scroll between 0% to 100% to set the maximum bandwidth for data sent over the selected partition. Each additional percent increments the bandwidth by 100Mbps. For example, setting the maximum bandwidth to 100 percent allows for sending and receiving data over the selected partition at up to
10,000Mbps.
5.
Repeat the previous step to configure the minimum and maximum bandwidth on the other partitions.
6.
When you are finished making changes, click Save to save any changes to the advanced parameters of the adapter. The Security Check dialog box may appear. In the Enter Password box, type the password, and then click
OK.
NOTE
The settings are persistent across reboots.
QConvergeConsole (QCC) CLI
QConvergeConsole Command Line Interface (CLI) is a management utility that centralizes management and configuration of QLogic adapters within the entire network (LAN and SAN).
You can use the QCC CLI tool in either interactive or non-interactive mode to configure and manage 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters installed on either Linux or
Windows host servers.
This section outlines the steps for setting up NIC partitions using QCC CLI in interactive mode. The displayed commands apply to both Linux and Windows operating systems.
For procedures on installing and starting this management tool, refer to the
QConvergeConsole CLI User's Guide.
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To set up NIC partitions using QCC CLI:
1.
Start the QCC CLI interface and select option 6: NIC Partitioning
<NPAR> Information
(
).
Figure 2-32. Selecting Option 6 to View NPAR Information Options
2.
Enter option 2: NPAR Port Information ( Figure 2-33 ).
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Figure 2-33. Selecting Option 2 to View NPAR Port Information
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The NPAR Configuration Selection Page displays the current configuration
(
).
Figure 2-34. NPAR Configuration Selection Screen
3.
Return to the main menu after viewing the NPAR information and select option 7: NIC Partitioning <NPAR> Configuration (
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Figure 2-35. Selecting NPAR Configuration
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4.
Select option 1: NPAR Configuration to display the NPAR
Configuration menu, which provides the following options:
1: Bandwidth Configuration
2: Change PCI Function Personality
5.
Configure the bandwidth settings to meet your system requirements.
For example, to change the bandwidth of the function 1 NIC partition: a.
Select option 1: Bandwidth Configuration.
b.
Select option 1: Function:1.
c.
Select option 1: Modify Minimum Bandwidth (
).
Figure 2-36. Selecting to Modify Minimum Bandwidth
d.
At the prompt, enter the percent value of bandwidth you want committed to the selected function. e.
Enter the percent value of bandwidth to which you want to limit the selected function.
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Specify whether you want the bandwidth settings to persist across reboots (
).
Figure 2-37. Setting Bandwidth Changes to Persist
6.
Return to the NIC Partitioning <NPAR> Configuration Selection screen.
7.
Change the personalities of each function to meet your system requirements. For example: a.
Select option 2: Change PCI Function Personality. b.
Select the port number,
1
or
2
.
c.
Select the function number. The command line displays a list of options with choices that apply to the selected function number. This mode prevents you from assigning a function type that does not apply to a given function number.
d.
Set the personality type by selecting the option number that identifies the desired function type. Depending on the function number and current state, this could be
Disabled
,
NIC
,
FCoE
, or
iSCSI
.
NOTE
For a list of NPAR configuration options, see
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Figure 2-38 shows the CLI commands leading to the option for changing a
function type on a Linux system.
Figure 2-38. Selecting Function Type on Linux System
8.
Return to the main menu and select option
8: NIC Partitioning <NPAR>
Statistics
to view the Statistics. Navigate through the menu selections to view eSwitch statistics.
9.
After you have finished setting the NIC partitions as desired, reboot the host server for the changes to take effect.
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QLogic Device Windows Properties Page
On a Windows Server that hosts 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters, you can use the
QLogic Device Windows Properties Page to set up NIC partitions (NPAR). You can also use it to view eSwitch statistics.
To set up NPAR using the QLogic Device Windows Properties Page:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Configure NPAR
You can use the NIC Partition Management tab in the device properties page to enable NPAR and configure the 10GbE physical port into a multi-function storage and networking port.
To set up NPAR on an 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters’ port:
1.
Log in to the server that contains installed 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters.
2.
Open the Server Manager and select Diagnostics > Device Manager >
Network Adapters.
3.
Right-click the first QLogic 10 Gigabit Ethernet CNA device and select
Properties from the context menu (
Figure 2-39. Selecting Properties from the Context Menu
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4.
From the Adapter Properties page, do the following: a.
Select the NIC Partition Management tab.
b.
Right-click the function number you want to enable.
c.
Select Enable Partition (
).
Figure 2-40. Enabling Partition
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When partitioning is enabled, the Adapter Properties page appears as
.
Figure 2-41. Partition Enabled
5.
Click OK to close the message box that displays the following information:
This change requires a reboot. Proceed?
6.
Click OK to close the message box that displays the following information:
Please reboot the system now
7.
Reboot the host server to make the changes take effect.
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Change Personalities
To change function types (personalities) as needed for your network:
1.
From the Server Manager, select Diagnostics > Device Manager >
Network Adapters.
2.
Right-click the desired QLogic 10 Gigabit Ethernet CNA device to change the function type and select Properties from the context menu.
3.
On the NIC Partition Management tab, right-click one of the enabled functions and select Convert to <Protocol> from the context menu
(
).
Figure 2-42. Selecting Convert to NIC from Context Menu
4.
Repeat these procedures to change the function types as desired.
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Manage Bandwidth
Using the NIC Partition Management tab in the Windows device properties page, you can allocate minimum and maximum bandwidth for each NIC function.
1.
From the 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters Adapter Properties page, select the NIC Partition Management tab.
2.
Right-click the function number for the port you want to configure and select
Configure Function from the context menu ( Figure 2-43
).
Figure 2-43. Selecting Configure Function for Function 0
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3.
Use the Configure Function dialog box to set the minimum and maximum bandwidth percentages, New Minimum BW (%) and New Maximum BW
).
Figure 2-44. Entering New Bandwidth Values
NOTE
Enhanced transmission service (ETS) only specifies the division of bandwidth between FCoE and non-FCoE traffic. It does not specify the bandwidth allocated to the NIC or iSCSI partitions. When the switch sets ETS values, the ETS bandwidth parameters take precedence.
The FCoE partition is allocated the bandwidth specified for FCoE in the
ETS parameters. The non-FCoE bandwidth is divided between the NIC and iSCSI partitions in the proportion specified by the NPAR management UI. In other words, when ETS is in effect, the NIC and iSCSI bandwidth values specified by the NPAR management UI are no longer a percentage of the total bandwidth. Instead, they are a percentage of the non-FCoE bandwidth.
4.
If desired, select the Make settings permanent check box to retain the new settings.
NOTE
If you do not select this option, the bandwidth values will revert to the default settings after you reboot the host server.
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5.
Click OK to save your changes.
The new bandwidth values appear in the right pane of the NIC Partition
Management property sheet (
Figure 2-45. NIC Partition Management Property Sheet
6.
Click OK at the bottom of the Properties page to close it.
View eSwitch Statistics
You can use the Window Device Manager’s NIC Partition Management window to view eSwitch statistics for enabled partitions.
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To display eSwitch statistics:
1.
From the 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters Adapter Properties page, select the NIC Partition Management tab.
2.
Right-click the function number for the port you want to review and select
eSwitch Statistics from the context menu.
A window opens that displays the statistics (
).
Figure 2-46. eSwitch Statistics for Function 0
3.
After reviewing the statistics, click OK or Cancel to close the pop-up window.
NPAR Setup
This section provides NPAR reference tables you can use when configuring NIC partitions using the various tools available.
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Default Settings
Before configuring NIC partitions, the 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters appear as a simple dual-port 10GbE adapter with the NPAR settings shown in
.
Function
Number
0
1
NIC
NIC
Table 2-6. Default Configuration
Function Type
Physical
Port
Number
Minimum
Bandwidth
(%)
Maximum
Bandwidth
(%)
0
1
0
0
100
100
Default
Function Type
Enabled as NIC
Enabled as NIC
Configuration Options
Depending on your system requirements and operating environment, you may set up the 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters’ port partitions to support different function types.
shows the available function types and configurable parameters.
Table 2-7. Configuration Options
Function
Number
Function Type
Physical
Port
Number
Minimum
Bandwidth
a
(%)
Maximum
Bandwidth
b
(%)
Default Function
Type
6
7
4
5
2
3
0
1
NIC
NIC
Disabled/NIC
Disabled/NIC iSCSI/NIC/Disabled iSCSI/NIC/Disabled
FCoE/NIC/Disabled
FCoE/NIC/Disabled
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
NIC
NIC
NIC
NIC iSCSI iSCSI
FCoE
FCoE a Minimum Bandwidth: Minimum guaranteed bandwidth, specified as a percentage of the link speed. The total across all partitions will add up to less than the maximum link bandwidth. The queue’s rate will be allowed to exceed the specified value up to max-rate, if excess bandwidth is available on the physical port link.
b
Maximum bandwidth: Maximum allowed bandwidth, specified as a percentage of the link speed. The queue’s rate will not be allowed to exceed the specified value, even if excess bandwidth is available on the physical port link. The total across all partitions may not be greater than the maximum link bandwidth.
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NPAR Configuration Parameters and Setup Tools
Table 2-8 identifies which parameters you can configure using each of the
available management tools.
Table 2-8. NPAR Configuration Parameters and Setup Tools
Tools/Configurable NPAR
Parameters
Function
Type
a
Minimum Bandwidth
b
(range 0-100%)
Maximum Bandwidth
(range 0-100%) b
QLogic NIC OptionROM
(Press CTRL+Q during
POST)
QLogic QConvergeConsole
GUI/CLI for supported
Windows and Linux operating systems
QLogic Windows Device
Manager—NIC Property Page
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes, configurable
Yes, configurable but only for NIC partitions, not for storage (iSCSI/FCoE) partitions
Yes, configurable but only for NIC partitions, not for storage (iSCSI/FCoE) partitions
Not configurable, read-only
Yes, configurable but only for NIC partitions, not for storage (iSCSI/FCoE) partitions
Yes, configurable but only for NIC partitions, not for storage (iSCSI/FCoE) partitions a
partition.
b
For FCoE, DCBX/ETS negotiated bandwidth will overwrite manually configured bandwidth.
Table 2-9. NPAR Wake-on-LAN (WOL) and PXE Boot Support
NPAR Partition
Function 0
Function 1
Function 2
Function 3
Function 4
Function 5
Function 6
Function 7
WOL
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
PXE Boot
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
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Frequently Asked Questions about NPAR
NIC Partitioning
Q: What is NIC Partitioning (NPAR)?
NIC Partitioning (NPAR) is a method of dividing each QLogic Adapter Ethernet port into a maximum of four partitions or virtual ports (eight virtual ports per adapter). These virtual ports can be assigned NIC, FCoE, or iSCSI personalities, and users can apply QoS settings by flexibly allocating minimum guaranteed bandwidth to each virtual port.
Q: How is NPAR different from SR-IOV?
Single root I/O virtualization (SR-IOV) is an industry-developed specification that identifies how a single PCI device can be partitioned and shared natively with multiple OSs on the same physical host. NPAR is similar to SR-IOV in that both allow partitioning a physical port into multiple partitions. With NPAR, the physical port is partitioned into multiple physical PCIe functions. However, in the case of
SR-IOV, the physical port is partitioned into multiple virtual PCIe functions. This difference in partitioning allows NPAR to be deployed in both bare metal
(non-virtualized) OSs and virtualized OSs. In contrast, SR-IOV is primarily targeted towards virtualized platforms.
To deploy SR-IOV today, you will need to ensure a minimum level of infrastructure
(server hardware and OS) support for SR-IOV. Whereas NPAR is available today with the 8200 and 3200 Series Adapters and supported with all major OSs, including Windows and Linux, without any specific minimum server hardware or
OS support requirements, SR-IOV is not currently supported on Windows.
Q: How does NPAR allow me to use fewer adapters?
With NPAR, users can create up to eight virtual ports per QLogic Adapter. Each virtual port can be a NIC, FCoE, or iSCSI port with minimum guaranteed bandwidth. This means a single adapter can now replace multiple 1GbE NICs,
Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapters, and iSCSI Host Bus Adapters.
Q: How many MAC addresses are supported by my adapter?
Eight MAC addresses are supported in total—one for each physical function.
Q: What does “switch-agnostic” mean? What are the benefits?
Switch-agnostic means that the NPAR feature works when the 8200 and 3200
Series Adapters are connected to a 10GbE switch. This implementation gives you broad interoperability in your environment and more freedom when choosing your
10GbE switch.
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Q: What’s the difference between a physical function and a virtual function?
Physical functions are full-featured PCIe functions that operate like normal PCI physical devices in terms of discovery, configuration, and management. Virtual functions are “lightweight” (minimized functionality support) PCIe functions that are derived from the physical PCIe functions.
Q: Is NPAR included when I purchase my adapter?
Yes. Full NPAR functionality comes with your purchase. There are no additional licensing fees incurred.
Q: What protocols are supported with NPAR?
The function types supported on the virtual ports are TCP/IP (NIC), iSCSI, and
FCoE.
Q: How is the QoS set? How does the bandwidth allocation work? What tools are used to set bandwidth?
The QoS parameter setting is supported from a minimum bandwidth of 100Mbps to 10Gbps. The settings can be allocated in blocks of 100Mbps increments (as a percentage of the total bandwidth).
There are three tools that users can employ to configure NPAR functionality:
Pre-boot utility
QLogic’s QConvergeConsole management tool (GUI and CLI)
Microsoft Windows
®
properties pages
Q: Is one virtual port’s unused bandwidth available for use by other active virtual ports?
Yes. The minimum settings are bandwidth guarantees, specified as a percentage of the link speed. If one or more virtual ports are not consuming their full allotment, that bandwidth can be temporarily consumed by other virtual ports if they need more than their guaranteed allotment.
Q: What OSs are supported with NPAR?
Currently, the following OS support is available: Microsoft Windows Server
™
2008/2008 SP2/2008 R2; Red Hat Linux
®
5.5, 6.0; Novell
®
SLES 10 SP3, SLES 11
SP1. For the latest list of supported operating systems, please check the QLogic
Web site.
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