FC configuration workflow

When you make storage available to a host using FC, you provision a volume and LUN on the storage virtual machine (SVM), and then connect to the LUN from the host.

This illustration is a flowchart of the FC workflow. The steps in the workflow match the topics in this guide.

Verifying that the FC configuration is supported
For reliable operation, you must verify that the entire FC configuration is supported.
Completing the FC configuration worksheet
You require FC initiator and target WWPNs and storage configuration information to perform FC configuration tasks.
Installing the HBA utility from the HBA vendor
The HBA utility enables you to view the worldwide port name (WWPN) of each FC port. The utility is also useful for troubleshooting FC issues.
Updating the HBA driver, firmware, and BIOS
If the FC host bus adapters (HBAs) in the Windows host are not running supported driver, firmware, and BIOS versions, you must update them.
Recording the WWPN for each host FC port
The worldwide port name (WWPN) is required to zone the FC switches and to create the igroups that allow the host to access its LUN.
Installing Windows Unified Host Utilities
Windows Unified Host Utilities includes an installation program that sets the required Windows registry and HBA parameters so that the Windows host correctly handles the storage system behaviors for NetApp ONTAP and E-Series platforms.
Creating an aggregate
If you do not want to use an existing aggregate, you can create a new aggregate to provide physical storage to the volume which you are provisioning.
Deciding where to provision the volume
Before you provision a volume to contain your LUNs, you need to decide whether to add the volume to an existing storage virtual machine (SVM) or to create a new SVM for the volume. You might also need to configure FC on an existing SVM.
Zoning the FC switches by the host and LIF WWPNs
Zoning the FC switches enables the hosts to connect to the storage and limits the number of paths. You zone the switches using the management interface of the switches.
Discovering new disks
LUNs on your storage virtual machine (SVM) appear as disks to the Windows host. Any new disks for LUNs you add to your system are not automatically discovered by the host. You must manually rescan disks to discover them.
Initializing and formatting the LUN
When a new LUN is first accessed by the Windows host, it has no partition or file system. You must initialize the LUN, and optionally format it with a file system.
Verifying that the host can write to and read from the LUN
Before using the LUN, you should verify that the host can write data to the LUN and read it back.