zfcp HBA API (FC-HBA) support

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7.1 LPAR mode z/VM guest

The zfcp host bus adapter API (HBA API) provides an interface for HBA management clients that run on IBM® Z.

As shown in Figure 1, the zfcp HBA API support includes a user space library.

Figure 1. zfcp HBA API support modules

This graphic is described in the preceding text.
The zFCP HBA API support uses the SNIA (Storage Networking Industry Association) library, hbaapi_src_<x.x>.tgz, which can be found at 
hbaapi.sourceforge.net
The SNIA HBA API library offers a common entry point for applications that manage HBAs. Using the library, an application can use any HBA independently of vendor.

In a Linux® on IBM Z environment HBAs are usually virtualized and are shown as FCP devices. FCP devices are represented by CCW devices that are listed in /sys/bus/ccw/drivers/zfcp. Do not confuse FCP devices with SCSI devices. A SCSI device is a disk device that is identified by a LUN.

Technically it is also possible for applications to use the zFCP HBA API library directly, however, this is not the preferred method.

For information about setting up the HBA API support, see Installing the zfcp HBA API library.