Patent ID: 7543081
Filing Date: 2009-06-02
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A computer implemented method for using N Port ID virtualization (NPIV) to extend virtualization capabilities of protocols, the computer-implemented method comprising: recognizing by a host control program that a virtual machine control program has activated a virtual machine guest in a set of virtual machine guests, wherein the virtual machine guest is a logical entity; determining if the virtual machine guest requires a dedicated unique identifier in order to extend a virtualization capability of a protocol to the virtual machine guest using a single FC-SB-3 host adapter to request the unique identifier, wherein the unique identifier is a N_Port ID; responsive to the virtual machine guest not requiring the unique identifier, assigning the virtual machine guest one or more FC-SB-3 channel image identifiers as needed; responsive to the virtual machine guest requiring a unique identifier, requesting the unique identifier for the virtual machine guest, wherein the virtual machine control program associated with the virtual machine guest requests the unique identifier from the host control program; assigning a unique name corresponding to the virtual machine guest using a storage area network management function, wherein the unique name is a worldwide port name (WWPN), wherein the host control program assigns the unique name; requesting by the host control program using the single FC-SB-3 host adapter the unique identifier from a fabric using the unique name; receiving the unique identifier for a logical partition among a set of logical partitions, from the fabric, wherein the set of logical partitions is able to obtain different unique identifiers for each virtual machine guest in the set of virtual machine guests; notifying the virtual machine guest using the virtual machine control program that the virtual machine control program has the unique identifier; receiving a log in from the virtual machine guest wherein the virtual machine guest logs in using the unique identifier and the unique name and uses FC-SB-3 control units; and recognizing the virtual machine guest.