NPort ID Virtualization (NPIV) is a mandatory Fibre Channel feature that must be enabled on all fabric switches participating in an NVMe/FC configuration. NPIV allows a single physical HBA port (NPort) to register multiple unique World Wide Port Names (WWPNs) and Fibre Channel IDs (FCIDs) with the fabric. This capability is essential for NVMe/FC, as it enables the creation of multiple virtual host-to-controller associations over a single physical link, which is fundamental to the protocol's operation and scalability in virtualized and modern storage environments.

A. Create multiple initiator zones and multiple target zones.

This is incorrect. Standard zoning best practice for both FCP and NVMe/FC is single-initiator zoning, where a zone contains one initiator and one or more targets.

B. Configure igroup and IQN mapping.

This is incorrect. IQN (iSCSI Qualified Name) is an identifier used for the iSCSI protocol. NVMe/FC uses NQN (NVMe Qualified Name) for initiator and subsystem identification.

C. Enable NPV on all fabric switches.

This is incorrect. NPort Virtualization (NPV) is a fabric topology feature, not a mandatory protocol requirement for NVMe/FC. A fabric can support NVMe/FC without using NPV.

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1. NetApp Technical Report 4684: NVMe over Fibre Channel with VMware vSphere.

Reference: Page 11

Section "Fabric Requirements".

Quote: "NPort ID Virtualization (NPIV) must be enabled on the fabric switches." This document explicitly lists NPIV as a fundamental requirement for the SAN fabric to support NVMe/FC.

2. NetApp ONTAP 9 SAN Administration Guide.

Reference: Section "Prerequisites for configuring NVMe".

Content: The guide details the necessary switch and HBA settings for NVMe/FC deployment. It consistently specifies that NPIV must be enabled on the switches

as it is a foundational technology upon which NVMe/FC transport relies.

3. Brocade Fabric OS Administration Guide.

Reference: Chapter on "NPort ID Virtualization".

Content: Switch vendor documentation confirms that NPIV is a prerequisite for supporting advanced features like NVMe/FC. It explains that NPIV provides the virtual port functionality necessary for the protocol to establish connections between hosts and storage subsystems.