Fabric-Assigned PWWN simplifies server deployment in a Fibre Channel SAN (FC SAN) environment
by using a virtual port World Wide Name (PWWN) instead of a physical PWWN to configure zoning and
LUN mapping and masking.

Server deployment typically requires that multiple administrative teams (for example, server and storage
teams) coordinate with each other to perform configuration tasks such as zone creation in the fabric and
LUN mapping and masking on the storage device. These tasks must be completed before the server is
deployed. Before you can configure WWN zones and LUN masks, you must find out the physical
PWWN of the server. This means that administrative teams cannot start their configuration tasks until
the physical server arrives (and its physical PWWN is known). Because the configuration tasks are
sequential and interdependent across various administrative teams, it may take several days before the
server gets deployed in an FC SAN.

You can use a fabric-assigned PWWN (FA-PWWN) to configure services such as zoning and LUN
masking before you have a physical server. An FA-PWWN is a "virtual" port WWN that can be used
instead of the physical PWWN. When the server is later attached to the SAN, the FA-PWWN is
assigned to the server.

For example, you can use the FA-PWWN feature to perform the following tasks:

• Replace one server with another server, or replace failed HBAs or adapters within a server, without

having to change any zoning or LUN mapping and masking configurations.

• Easily move servers across ports or Access Gateways by way of reassigning the FA-PWWN to

another port.

• Use the FA-PWWN to represent a server in boot LUN zone configurations so that any physical server

that is mapped to this FA-PWWN can boot from that LUN, thus simplifying boot over SAN
configuration.

NOTE
The server must use a Brocade HBA or adapter to use the FA-PWWN feature. Refer to the release
notes for the HBA or adapter versions that support this feature.

You can configure an FA-PWWN for the following topologies:

Fabric OS Administrators Guide

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