Q-Logic 8200 Manuel D’Utilisation

2–Configuring NIC

NIC Partition (NPAR)

SN0054671-00  A

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The NPAR feature in QLogic adapters provides the ability to create multiple PCIe 
physical functions for each physical 10GbE port on the adapter. Each of the PCIe 
functions appears as an independent interface to the host operating system or 
hypervisor.

Dual-port, 10Gb adapters configured as Ethernet-only adapters contain eight 
Ethernet functions. 8200 Series and 3200 Series adapter configurations can 
contain up to four Ethernet functions corresponding to each physical port.

By default, NPAR functionality is disabled on the adapters. Only two Ethernet 
functions are 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 functions. 



Functions 4 and 5 are iSCSI functions if iSCSI is enabled. 



Functions 6 and 7 are FCoE functions if FCoE is enabled. 



If iSCSI and FCoE functions are not enabled, they can be configured as NIC 
functions. 



Only one iSCSI function per physical port. 



Only one FCoE function per physical port.

The PCI function to port mapping is also fixed as follows: 



Functions 0, 2, 4, and 6 share one physical port.



Functions 1, 3, 5, and 7 share the other physical port.

When performed, the following operations require a system reboot to take effect:



Enabling or disabling NPAR mode 



Changing function type: 


iSCSI to NIC 



FCoE to NIC



NIC to FCoE 

Perform NPAR configuration using any of the following methods:



OptROM 



Lifecycle controller 



Managements tools under various OSs