fcp show initiator still display a dead server's wwpn

blackjack168 — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 07:11:00 GMT

I have 2 windows sql 2005 cluser servers using lun in 2040A, When one of the host is down (for quite a while) , I type fcp show initiator , the wwpn is still there. It does not make sense to me.

FAS2040A> fcp show initiator
Initiators connected on adapter 0b:
Portname                  Group
--------                  -----
21:00:00:1b:32:1a:d3:0e   FCP_cluster <-- this is weird, this host is down actually.
21:00:00:1b:32:13:02:38   FCP_cluster; FCP_dedicate
FAS2040A> fcp stop
Wed Aug 4 14:06:20 CST [FAS2040A: fcp.service.shutdown:info]: FCP service shutdown
FCP service stopped.
FAS2040A> fcp start
Wed Aug 4 14:06:25 CST [FAS2040A: fcp.service.startup:info]: FCP service startup
Wed Aug 4 14:06:25 CST [FAS2040A: scsitarget.ispfct.onlining:notice]: Onlining Fibre Channel target adapter 0b.
FAS2040A> Wed Aug 4 14:06:26 CST [FAS2040A: scsitarget.ispfct.linkUp:notice]: Link up on Fibre Channel target adapter 0b.

FAS2040A> fcp show initiator
Initiators connected on adapter 0b:
Portname                  Group
--------                  -----
21:00:00:1b:32:13:02:38   FCP_cluster; FCP_dedicate

Re: fcp show initiator still display a dead server's wwpn

thomas_glodde — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 07:57:36 GMT

black,

yes, happens at our machines as well, seems it might stay there for a while if they dont properly do a fabric logout or so.

But you can be sure if your service is shut down, then your LUN is save, regardless if the initiator is visible there or not.

Check Bug 75407 by NetApp:

"When a host initiator has been disconnected from the Fibre Channel fabric, the
filer's "fcp show initiator" command continues to show the initiator as logged
in, even though the switch shows the right status for the host. This is due to
the nature of the fcp protocol. When a host initiator first tries to
communicate with the filer, it must log in with the filer first. This login
status is shown in "fcp show initiator". In order for it to be removed from
the "fcp show initiator" list, it needs to be logged out. Disconnecting a
host from the fabric does not trigger this logout event with the filer. The
filer does not know the host has been removed and thus, still believes the host
to be logged in.

Having "fcp show initiator" display information about the disconnected host
initiator does not affect any filer functionality. The login state is simply
left open until the target adapter is reset or the host initiator logs back
in again."

Kind regards

Thomas

topic Re: fcp show initiator still display a dead server's wwpn in Network and Storage Protocols

fcp show initiator still display a dead server's wwpn

Re: fcp show initiator still display a dead server's wwpn