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Configuring NVMe over TCP/IP software initiator

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The NVMe over TCP/IP software initiator is configured by using the SMIT.

To modify the attributes of the NVMe over TCP/IP protocol device by using the SMIT, perform the following steps:
  1. Open AIX command prompt.
  2. Enter smit in the AIX command prompt.
  3. Select Devices in the System Management screen and press Enter.
  4. Select NVMe over TCP/IP in the Devices screen and press Enter.
  5. Select NVMe over TCP/IP Protocol Device in the NVMe over TCP/IP screen and press Enter.
  6. Select Change/Show Characteristics of an NVMe over TCP/IP Protocol Device in the NVMe over TCP/IP Protocol Device screen and press Enter.
  7. Select the required NVMe over TCP/IP device from the list.
    Note: By default, tcpnvme0 NVMe over TCP/IP Protocol device is available in the device list.

    The Change/Show Charateristics of an NVMe over TCP/IP Protocol Device screen is displayed.

  8. Verify that the values of the host NVMe Qualified Name (NQN) and host Identifier are accurate according to the NVMe standards.

    NVMe over TCP/IP target device uses the host NQN and host Identifier fields during the login.

    Note: When you install the software, default host NQN and host ID values are available for the default tcpnvme0 protocol device. You can change the host NQN and host ID values for a protocol device. When you configure multiple NVMe over TCP/IP initiator devices, assign a unique host NQN value to each initiator device.

The NVMe over TCP/IP software initiator supports the Object Data Manager (ODM) discovery method or policy. The ODM object store the information about the IP address, port number, and NQN of the target device. Use the ODM discovery method when an NVMe over TCP/IP disk is used as a boot disk or as a part of rootvg boot. For more information, see Adding a statically-discovered NVMe over TCP/IP target into ODM.

After you configure the NVMe over TCP/IP software initiator, perform the following steps:
  1. Add the IP address, port number, and NQN of the target device if the discovery policy is ODM by using the mktcpnvme command or SMIT.
  2. Perform the steps in the section Adding a statically-discovered NVMe over TCP/IP target into ODM to add the information of the target device.
  3. Enter the following command in the AIX command prompt to reconfigure the software initiator driver: 
    cfgmgr -l tcpnvme0
    This command allows the driver to communicate with the targets that are listed in the ODM, and to define a new hdisk for each NVMe namespace that are detected on the targets. For more information, see cfgmgr command.
    Note: If the appropriate disks are not defined, check the configuration of the initiator, target, and any NVMe over TCP/IP gateways to ensure correctness, and rerun the cfgmgr command.
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