Emulex Adapters Benutzerhandbuch

 

Emulex works very closely with storage and system providers to ensure optimal performance of 
supported systems. As part of that work, both Emulex and the storage and system providers test specific 
hardware configurations and specific versions of firmware, drivers and other software for all the 
components of a storage area network (SAN). This testing ensures that each supported configuration 
performs as indicated and operates successfully in an enterprise installation. Compatibility matrices are 
available on the Emulex Web site (www.emulex.com/interop/index.jsp) that provide information on which 
configurations, firmware/software, servers, storage, adapters, switches and other components properly 
function together.

It is critical to verify that all the components of the SAN, including hardware and firmware/drivers/
software for each component are supported. Storage and system providers’ web sites are the best 
sources for this information. 

Each Emulex driver has a number of configuration parameters that allow the customization of the 
behavior of the driver. Because these parameters can significantly change the behavior of the Emulex 
product, great care must be taken in the setting or changing of the parameters. Storage and system 
providers put forth great effort in determining what particular configuration parameters must be set to in 
order to provide optimal storage area SAN performance. 

Emulex configuration parameters are stored in the server into which the adapter is installed. The device 
driver acts upon these parameters. Emulex configuration parameters are NOT stored in the adapter 
flash memory. Unlike other SCSI and Fibre Channel (FC) adapters, Emulex does not store any 
configuration information such as timers, FC topology or link speed in the adapter flash. When an 
Emulex adapter is installed into a server, there is no separate configuration step required for the adapter. 
Proper driver configuration is generally all that is required. The exception to this is if you boot from SAN. 
In this case, you must use the adapter BIOS utility to configure the boot device. The adapter must be 
told which FC device contains the boot volume, and that information is stored in the flash. These settings 
are only in effect at boot time. Once the operating system (OS) loads the device driver, most settings of 
the driver are used and the adapter BIOS no longer functions. 

Emulex provides a variety of utility applications that include diagnostic capabilities. Documentation is 

available at 

http://www.emulex.com/support

/.  These utilities are:

•

The HBAnyware utility

•

The stand-alone utilities

•

DOSLpCfg

•

WinLpCfg

•

LinLpCfg

For best results, never change the driver configuration parameters from their 

default values or the values specified by the storage and systems providers. 
Doing so can alter performance of the SAN and place the SAN in a 
configuration that is not supported, or cause it to operate improperly.