Overview of mixed mode

How target ports provide access to LUNs

The mixed mode setting is supported on all systems except for the FAS270c. Each FCP target port supports three virtual ports:

Virtual local port, which provides access to LUNs on the local system.
Virtual standby port, which provides access to LUNs on the failed system when a takeover occurs. The standby virtual port assumes the WWPN of the corresponding port on the failed partner.
Virtual partner port, which provides access to LUNs on the partner system. This port enables hosts to bind the physical switch port address to the target device, and allows hosts to use active/passive multipathing software.

In mixed mode, the target ports connect to the fabric in loop mode. This means that you cannot use mixed mode with switches that do not support public loop.

AIX or HP-UX hosts connected to a cluster in mixed mode must have multipathing software installed. For information about the multipathing software supported for your host, see the documentation for your FCP Attach Kit.

The following output example shows how the fcp config command displays virtual ports when the storage system is in mixed mode and the cluster is in normal operation.

filer> fcp config

9a:   ONLINE <ADAPTER UP>  Loop  Fabric

        host address 021bda

        portname 50:a9:80:01:03:00:e0:73  nodename 50:a9:80:00:03:00:e0:73

        mediatype loop  partner adapter 9a

9a_0: ONLINE Local

        portname 50:a9:80:01:03:00:e0:73  nodename 50:a9:80:00:03:00:e0:73

        loopid 0x7 portid 0x021bda

9a_1: OFFLINE Standby

        portname 50:a9:80:01:03:00:e0:5f  nodename 50:a9:80:00:03:00:e0:5f

        loopid 0x0 portid 0x000000

9a_2: ONLINE Partner

        portname 50:a9:80:09:03:00:e0:5f  nodename 50:a9:80:00:03:00:e0:5f

        loopid 0x9 portid 0x021bd6

9b:   ONLINE <ADAPTER UP>  Loop  Fabric

        host address 021ada

        portname 50:a9:80:02:03:00:e0:73  nodename 50:a9:80:00:03:00:e0:73

        mediatype loop  partner adapter 9b

9b_0: ONLINE Local

        portname 50:a9:80:02:03:00:e0:73  nodename 50:a9:80:00:03:00:e0:73

        loopid 0x7 portid 0x021ada

9b_1: OFFLINE Standby

        portname 50:a9:80:02:03:00:e0:5f  nodename 50:a9:80:00:03:00:e0:5f

        loopid 0x0 portid 0x000000

9b_2: ONLINE Partner

        portname 50:a9:80:0a:03:00:e0:5f  nodename 50:a9:80:00:03:00:e0:5f

        loopid 0x9 portid 0x021ad6