topic Re: Directly connect FC a host in ONTAP Discussions

Directly connect FC a host

jcramos — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 09:49:16 GMT

We have a FAS2720 netapp that has 2 controllers and 2 ports for each FC controller.
We have connected the FC ports directly to some servers with Vmware and we cannot see a datastore in vmware...

NETAPP::*> network interface show -data-protocol fcp -fields status-admin , status-oper , status-extended
vserver lif status-oper status-extended status-admin
----------------- ------------------------- ----------- ------------------- ------------
SVM_VMWARE_FC_PAS lif_SVM_VMWARE down LIF not initialized up
SVM_VMWARE_FC_PAS lif_SVM_VMWARE down LIF not initialized up
2 entries were displayed.

appears "LIF not initialized"

Is it possible to connect a storage directly to some servers via FC without there being an FC switch?

We don't have FC switches

I've been reading documentation and it seems not, but it's weird, a lot of other storage from other manufacturers do allow it, it's weird that Netapp doesn't...

Thank you,

Regards,

Re: Directly connect FC a host

paul_stejskal — Mon, 15 May 2023 18:32:37 GMT

No. https://kb.netapp.com/onprem/ontap/da/SAN/Can_FC_initiators_direct_attach_to_ONTAP_systems

It's because the NPIV feature is incompatible with ONTAP 9.

Re: Directly connect FC a host

jcramos — Tue, 16 May 2023 17:18:15 GMT

thanks for your help.

it´s clear.

Re: Directly connect FC a host

paul_stejskal — Tue, 16 May 2023 17:21:00 GMT

You're welcome.

Re: Directly connect FC a host

AlexDawson — Wed, 17 May 2023 06:03:35 GMT

Is it perhaps more accurate to say that NPIV is *required* by ONTAP and direct connection is incompatible with it? Irregardless, you're right - the topology suggested is not supported, but I make the comment for others who may find this thread in future.

Re: Directly connect FC a host

paul_stejskal — Wed, 17 May 2023 13:44:09 GMT

Thanks for being more clear Alex.