In storage systems and Fibre Channel (FC) connectivity, WWNs, WWNNs, and WWPNs play a crucial role. This article will provide a more in-depth understanding of these identifiers.
Table of Contents
What are WWNs?
WWN, short for World Wide Name, is a globally unique 64-bit number typically represented in hexadecimal notation. This number is assigned by the vendor and can be changed for certain devices. WWN is a general term, and when referring to it, it is either referring to a World Wide Port Name (WWPN) or a World Wide Node Name.
What are WWPNs?
The World Wide Port Name (WWPN) is a globally unique identifier that is assigned to each individual port on a Fibre Channel network. When discussing a WWN in the context of Fibre Channel management, it is typically referring to the WWPN.
What are WWNNs?
The World Wide Node Name (WWNN) is a globally unique identifier assigned to each node on a Fibre Channel network. It is used to identify each individual computer connected to the Storage Area Network (SAN). As a computer can have multiple Fibre Channel adapters, a single WWNN can have multiple World Wide Port Names (WWPNs) associated with it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, World Wide Name (WWN) is a unique identifier assigned to devices in Fibre Channels and Fibre Channels over Ethernet networks. WWNN and WWPN are specific types of WWNs, with WWNN identifying nodes (typically host bus adapters or storage arrays) and WWPN identifying ports on those nodes. Understanding the difference between these identifiers is important for configuring and managing Fibre Channel networks, including zoning and LUN masking. It’s also used for troubleshooting and identifying faulty devices or ports.
FAQ
What is a WWN?
WWN stands for World Wide Name. It is a unique identifier assigned to a Fibre Channel (FC) or Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) device.
What is a WWNN?
WWNN stands for World Wide Node Name. It is a unique identifier assigned to a Fibre Channel or FCoE node, typically a host bus adapter (HBA) or a storage array.
What is a WWPN?
WWPN stands for World Wide Port Name. It is a unique identifier assigned to a Fibre Channel or FCoE port, typically a port on an HBA or a storage array.
What is the difference between WWNs, WWNN, and WWPN?
WWN is a general term that refers to both WWNN and WWPN.
WWNN is a specific identifier assigned to a node, while WWPN is a specific identifier assigned to a port.
In other words, WWNN is the identifier of the host or storage array, while WWPN is the identifier of a specific port on that host or storage array.
How WWNs, WWNN and WWPN used in networking?
WWNs, WWNN, and WWPN are used to uniquely identify devices and ports in a Fibre Channel or FCoE network.
They are typically used to configure zoning and LUN masking in a storage area network (SAN) environment.
They can also be used for other management and troubleshooting tasks such as identifying faulty devices or ports.
