NVMe hosts that run the Microsoft Windows operating system

Ensure that your system meets the requirements for attaching to a host that is running the Microsoft Windows operating system.

The following list provides the requirements for attaching the system to the host that is running the Windows operating system:
  • Before you install the Emulex HBA Manager application, verify the correct level with Broadcom. At the time of publication, OneInstall-Setup-12.6.240.40.exe, which includes driver level 12.6.165.0, was used.
  • Install the Emulex HBA Manager application from Broadcom. Under Installation options, select the FC Driver checkbox to include the driver in the installation. Also, select the correct Emulex HBA Manager application kit checkbox.

Configuring the Windows operating system for FC-NVMe hosts

After you ensure that your system meets the requirements for attaching to a Microsoft Windows host, configure the Windows operating system.

You must install the appropriate host bus adapters with the correct firmware and driver levels that support FC-NVMe.
  1. Zone the host ports to the NVMe ports on the system. For more information about how to identify NVMe ports on the system, see the CLI host commands.
  2. Find the Windows host NVMe Qualfied Names (NQNs). The NQNs of the Windows host displays as a string composed from a constant and the WWPN address of the host port. The constant is nqn.2017-01.com.broadcom:ecd:nvmf:fc: plus add the port WWPN.
  3. On the system, create the Windows host by using the Windows ports NQN. The system supports up to 2 NQN addresses per host object, which are separated by a comma. For instructions about creating a host, refer to the host commands information.
  4. On the system, map relevant volumes to the Windows NVMe host. The same volumes cannot be mapped concurrently to both NVMe and SCSI.
  5. Open Emulex HBA Manager application. Select a port to configure and click Driver Parameters. Change the following defaults and repeat for each port:
    1. For EnableNVMe, set to 1 to enable NVMe support.
    2. For NumNVMENode, set to the maximum value of 512.
    3. For NumNVMENS, set to the number of volumes that are mapped or to the maximum value of 255. 
  6. Apply the settings and restart the Windows host.
  7. Either validate the correct firmware level or select Download Firmware to update.

Multipath configuration for FC-NVMe Windows hosts

Follow FC-NVMe multipath configuration recommendations for successful attachment of Microsoft Windows hosts to the system.

  1. On Windows server manager > Tools, MPIO might need to be added. You can add MPIO either through Manage > Add Roles/Features or through the powershell command Add-WindowsFeature -Name 'Multipath-IO'.
  2. In the MPIO window, select Discover Multi-Paths. Under Others, add IBM NVMe 2145. This process might take a while.
  3. Restart the Windows host.
  4. You can view the multipath device by entering the powershell command mpclaim -s -d.