Enabling NPIV on MDS Question

[c.walsh]

I have had this question put to me by a customer.

"We have some MDS Switches running 3.3(5b).  We need to enable NPIV on them.

On v5 switches we had to reboot but the documentation on the Cisco website suggests this might not be needed for v3 switches.

Could anyone confirm either way please?"

Thanks in advance

Colin

[setmason]

Enabling NPIV on a MDS switch doesn't require a reboot, enabling NPV mode (like on a 9100 series) does require a reboot.

-Seth

[c.walsh]

Seth,

    Thanks for the reply, can i assume they need to enable NPV mode to configure NPIV?

Does this definitely rewuire a reboot with version 3.3(5b) as the documentation suggests this is not the case?

Thanks

Colin

[setmason]

Colin,

NPV and NPIV are complimentary technologies.  In most cases, you would have enable NPV mode on your edge/access switch, which could be something like a MDS 91xx, enabling of NPV mode is disruptive.  Then to take advantage of NPV mode on the 91xx switch, you would enable NPIV on your core director (MDS 9506/9509/9513). 

Enabling NPIV on the 95xx director is not disruptive (no reboot), enabling NPV mode on the 91xx requires a reboot of the 91xx.

-Seth