FC IDs

When an N or NL port logs into a Cisco MDS 9000 Family switch, it is assigned an FC ID. By default, the persistent FC ID feature is enabled. If this feature is disabled, the following consequences apply:

• An N or NL port logs into a Cisco MDS 9000 Family switch. The WWN of the requesting N or NL port and the assigned FC ID are retained and stored in a volatile cache. The contents of this volatile cache are not saved across reboots.
• The switch is designed to preserve the binding FC ID to the WWN on a best-effort basis. For example, if one N port disconnects from the switch and its FC ID is requested by another device, this request is granted and the WWN with the initial FC ID association is released.
• The volatile cache stores up to 4000 entries of WWN to FC ID binding. If this cache is full, a new (more recent) entry overwrites the oldest entry in the cache. In this case, the corresponding WWN to FC ID association for the oldest entry is lost.
• The switch connection behavior differs between N ports and NL ports:
• N ports receive the same FC IDs if disconnected and reconnected to any port within the same switch (as long as it belongs to the same VSAN).
• NL ports receive the same FC IDs only if connected back to the same port on the switch to which they were originally connected.

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