Qlogic 3200 Series User Manual - Nic Partitioning Options
A–NIC Partitioning (NPAR) Overview
QLogic Adapters That Support NPAR
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QLogic Adapters That Support NPAR
The following adapters support NPAR:
3200 Series Intelligent Ethernet Adapters
8200 and 8300 Series Converged Network Adapters
NIC Partitioning Options
The NPAR feature in QLogic adapters provides the ability to create multiple PCIe
physical functions for each physical 10GbE port on the adapter. Each PCIe
function appears as an independent interface to the host operating system or
hypervisor.
When the adapter is configured as an Ethernet-only adapter, it contains eight
Ethernet functions.
Because NPAR functionality is disabled by default, the adapter starts out with only
two Ethernet functions; if you later enable NPAR, you can then enable additional
Ethernet or storage functions. (This does not apply to 8300 Series adapters which
can be configured with either FC Only or CNA personality.)
The PCI function number assignment for 3200 Series and 8200 Series Adapters
is as follows:
Even function numbers (0, 2, 4, 6) are associated with port 1. Odd function
numbers (1, 3, 5, 7) are associated with port 2.
Functions 0 and 1 are alwaysconfigured as NIC and cannot be disabled.
All other functions can be individually enabled or disabled.
Functions 2 and 3 are always configured as NIC.
Functions 4 and 5 can be configured as either iSCSI or NIC.
Functions 6 and 7 can be configured as either FCoE or NIC.
Each physical port can have at most one iSCSI function and one FCoE
function.
The PCI function number assignment for 8300 Series Adapters is as follows:
Even function numbers (0, 2, 4, 6) are associated with port 1. Odd function
numbers (1, 3, 5, 7) are associated with port 2.
Functions 0 and 1 are alwaysconfigured as NIC and cannot be disabled.
All other functions can be individually enabled or disabled.
Functions 2 and 3 can be configured as either iSCSI or NIC.
Functions 4 and 5 can be configured as either FCoE or NIC.
Functions 6 and 7 are reserved (not available for use at this time).