1. NPAR Dell - QLogic
October 2011

2. Dell and QLogic Drive Next-generation Blade Server I/O Virtualization with NPAR*
*Based on QLogic VMflexTM Technology
October, 2011

3. Agenda Why NPAR (NIC Partitioning)? Highlights Operations
Configurations
QME8242-k
PowerEdge M-Series Blade Server
PowerConnect M8424-k Converged Network Switch
PowerEdge M1000e Modular Blade Enclosure
October, 2011

4. Why NPAR? Lowers TCO Efficient I/O Utilization Simpler Deployment
Consolidates cables, infrastructure, and I/O
Saves server resources
Reduces operational complexity
Flexible SAN and LAN personality
VM to VM NIC traffic without external switch
Efficient I/O Utilization
Allows dynamic bandwidth provisioning
Minimizes bandwidth waste
Scales I/O workloads and connections
Scale-Out performance for virtualized servers
Provides finer control for SLA / on demand services
Simpler Deployment
Solution not dependent on OS or switch
Configuration at pre-boot or OS level
Maximize Data Center Efficiency
October, 2011

5. Key Attributes No OS or BIOS changes required
NIC controls transmit flow rate
User configurable
Dynamic bandwidth allocation
Storage and NIC personalities (function type)
Full offload for iSCSI and FCoE with NPAR
Concurrent FCoE, iSCSI and NIC support
Minimum bandwidth allows fine grain QoS
OS & Switch Agnostic Solution Delivers Highest Levels of Interoperability
October, 2011

6. NPAR Theory of Operation
Up to 4 Physical Functions on each physical port
PF0
NIC*
PF2
NIC
PF4
iSCSI / NIC
PF6
FCoE / NIC
PF1
NIC*
PF3
NIC
PF5
iSCSI / NIC
PF7
FCoE / NIC
Physical Port 0
Physical Port 1
Default Function State
NIC* Function Always Enabled
PF4 & PF5 iSCSI
PF2 & PF3 Disabled
PF6 & PF7 FCoE
PF0 & PF1 NIC*
October, 2011

7. NPAR Theory of Operation
* Functions 0 & 1 (Port 0 and Port 1)
Always present
Always NIC
2 & 3 - NIC or disabled
4 & 5 - iSCSI, NIC or disabled
6 & 7 - FCoE, NIC or disabled
One iSCSI and/or FCoE per Physical Port
NIC, iSCSI, & FCoE have fixed function numbers
Functions 2 -7 can be independently disabled
Function
Number
Type
Physical Port
NIC* 1 2
NIC 3 4
iSCSI/ NIC 5 6
FCoE/ NIC 7
October, 2011
QLogic Confidential

8. NPAR Configuration Options
Enable / Disable NPAR Functions
Change Function Type (Personality)
Allocate Min and Max Bandwidth
Configuration Utilities
Pre Boot Utility
Windows
Property Sheet
QCC GUI
QCC CLI
QLogic Fast!UTIL / Dell USC
Linux -
ESX
vCenter Plugin
ESXi
October, 2011

9. NPAR Configuration QLogic Utility
Invoke QLogic Fast!UTIL during POST
Type <Ctrl>Q
October, 2011

10. NPAR Configuration QLogic Utility
Configuration Utility
Change Function Type
Allocate Min Bandwidth
Save Changes and Reboot
October, 2011

11. NPAR Configuration Dell USC
UEFI  F10  USC  Advanced Configuration  Select Port for NPAR
October, 2011

12. NPAR Configuration Dell USC
October, 2011

13. NPAR Configuration Dell USC
October, 2011

14. NPAR Configuration Windows Properties Page
Configured for three NICs and
FCoE
NPAR
Configured for three NICs and
iSCSI
October, 2011

15. NPAR Configuration QCC GUI
Web based tool provides same interface for Windows and Linux
October, 2011

16. NPAR Configuration QCC CLI
CLI tool provides same interface for Windows and Linux
October, 2011

17. NPAR Configuration ESX
Server
Hypervisor
VM a-b
VM c-d
VM e-f
VM g-h
VM i-j
VM l-m
VM n-o
VM p-q
vNIC a-b
vNIC c-d
vNIC e-f
vNIC g-h
vNIC i-j
vNIC l-m
vDisk
vDisk
Independently configured for each port
eSwitch used for VM to VM NIC communication
vSwitch
vSwitch
vSwitch
vSwitch
vSwitch
vSwitch
SCSI Layer
PF 0
PF 2
PF 4
PF 6
PF 1
PF 3
PF 5
PF 7
Port 0
Port 1
iSCSI
FCoE
eSwitch
eSwitch
Uplink
TX/RX
TX/RX
PHY
PHY
Switch Port
Switch
October, 2011

18. NPAR Configuration ESX
Server
VM1
VM2 VM VM VM VM VM VM
vNIC
vNIC
vNIC
vNIC
vNIC
vNIC
vNIC
vNIC
Hypervisor
vSwitch
vSwitch
vSwitch
vSwitch
PF 2
PF 4
PF 0
PF 6
NIC Port 0
eSwitch
TX/RX
PHY
Switch
NIC Port 1
October, 2011

19. NPAR Configuration – vCenter Plugin (1 of 2)
Save NPAR configuration
Reboot to initiate change
Enable NIC Function Type for Function_2
using pull down menu
October, 2011

20. NPAR Configuration - vCenter Plugin (2 of 2)
Enabled with NIC Function_2
October, 2011

21. NPAR Configuration Bandwidth Allocation
Minimum Bandwidth
Minimum guaranteed bandwidth
Specified as % of link speed
Total of all partitions is up to Max bandwidth link
May exceed specified Min value up to Max value
If excess bandwidth available on the physical port
Maximum Bandwidth
Up to the Max allowed bandwidth
Not allowed to exceed Max value
Even if excess bandwidth available on physical port
October, 2011

22. NPAR Configuration Bandwidth Allocation using Dell USC
October, 2011

23. NPAR Configuration Bandwidth Allocation with Dell USC
From Global Bandwidth Allocation
Select the Partition
Default Allocation Shown
Set Relative Bandwidth Weighting
Set Maximum Bandwidth
October, 2011

24. NPAR Configuration Bandwidth Allocation with Dell USC
Configure Minimum Bandwidth Configure Maximum Bandwidth
October, 2011

25. NPAR Configuration Bandwidth Allocation
RT Click Function 0, to Enable
Bandwidth Configuration Window
Configure Min and Max Value Dynamically
October, 2011

26. NPAR Configuration Bandwidth Allocation with vCenter Plugin
October, 2011

27. NPAR Configuration Oversubscription
An NPAR enabled 10Gb port can be configured to allow each NIC partition to claim up to 100% of bandwidth that is going unused by the other NIC partitions on the same port
Without Oversubscription
Bandwidth
Fixed
Unused bandwidth is wasted
With Oversubscription
Bandwidth
Unused bandwidth available
Can be used automatically
Partitions use it when needed
October, 2011

28. October, 2011