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Configure ONTAP FC ports for direct-attachment to FC and FC-NVMe hosts

Contributors netapp-aherbin
PDFs

Beginning with ONTAP 9.19.1, an FC switch is not required to establish connections between FC and FC-NVMe hosts and ONTAP storage. Hosts can be directly connected to FC adapter ports on AFF, ASA, ASA r2 and FAS systems. Direct-attachment capability can be especially valuable in remote sites and hybrid environments where simplicity is key. You must take the FC port offline and modify its topology before it can be directly attached to a host.

FC ports used in direct-attachment configurations have the following restrictions:

  • The port can be assigned to only one storage VM (SVM).

  • Only one network interface (LIF) can be assigned to the port after it is configured for direct attachment.

  • The port can support the FC protocol or the FC-NVMe protocol, but not both.

Before you begin

You must be a cluster administrator.

System Manager

  1. In System Manager, select Network > FC ports.

  2. Select selection icon next to the port you want to configure for direct attachment and then select Edit topology.

  3. Under Topology, select Direct and then select I want to change the topology and take the port offline.

  4. Select Save.

  5. Connect the cable for the target port directly to the host initiator.

  6. If you have an ASA r2 system, follow this System Manager procedure to create a LIF. If you have an AFF, ASA or FAS system, follow these steps to create a LIF:

    1. Select Network > Interfaces and then select add icon.

    2. Select the FC or NVMe/FC protocol.

    3. Name the LIF or accept the name generated by ONTAP.

    4. If at least one subnet is configured, you can select a subnet for the LIF.

    5. If you don't select a subnet, you can specify the IP address and subnet mask for the broadcast domain.

    6. Select the home port from the broadcast domain.

      The home port control is displayed based on the broadcast domain or subnet selection

    7. Select Save.

      The port is brought online automatically when the LIF is created.

What's next?

In System Manager, select Network > FC ports and then verify that the Topology is displayed as Direct.

CLI

  1. View the administrative and operational status of the LIF used for the adapter port:

    network interface show -vserver <SVM_name>

  2. Take the adapter offline:

    network fcp adapter modify -node <node_name> -adapter <adapter_port> -status-admin down

  3. Remove all LIFs from the adapter port:

    network interface delete -vserver <SVM_name> -lif <lif_name>,<lif_name>

  4. Change the adapter port topology to direct:

    network fcp adapter modify -node <node_name> -adapter <adapter_port> -topology direct

  5. Connect the cable for the target port directly to the host initiator.

  6. Create a single LIF interface:

    network interface create -vserver <SVM_name> -lif <lif_name> -data protocol fcp|fcp-nvme -home-node <node_name> -home-port <port_name>

    The port is automatically enabled after LIF creation.

  7. Verify that the port is configured for direct attachment:

    network fcp adapter show -fields topologies-supported

    The topology should be displayed as direct.