vSphere Storage - ESXi 5.1 - Documentation - VMware

Booting ESXi with Software FCoE 8
ESXi supports boot from FCoE capable network adapters.
When you install and boot ESXi from an FCoE LUN, the host can use a VMware software FCoE adapter and
a network adapter with FCoE capabilities. The host does not require a dedicated FCoE HBA.
You perform most configurations through the option ROM of your network adapter. The network adapters
must support one of the following formats, which communicate parameters about an FCoE boot device to
VMkernel.
n FCoE Boot Firmware Table (FBFT). FBFT is Intel propriety.
n FCoE Boot Parameter Table (FBPT). FBPT is defined by VMware for third-party vendors to implement
software FCoE boot.
The configuration parameters are set in the option ROM of your adapter. During an ESXi installation or a
subsequent boot, these parameters are exported in to system memory in either FBFT format or FBPT format.
The VMkernel can read the configuration settings and use them to access the boot LUN.
This chapter includes the following topics:
n “Requirements and Considerations for Software FCoE Boot,” on page 63
n “Best Practices for Software FCoE Boot,” on page 64
n “Set Up Software FCoE Boot,” on page 64
n “Troubleshooting Installation and Boot from Software FCoE,” on page 65
Requirements and Considerations for Software FCoE Boot
When you boot the ESXi host from SAN using software FCoE, certain requirements and considerations apply.
Requirements
n ESXi 5.1.
n The network adapter must have the following capabilities:
n Be FCoE capable.
n Support ESXi 5.x open FCoE stack.
n Contain FCoE boot firmware which can export boot information in FBFT format or FBPT format.
Considerations
n You cannot change software FCoE boot configuration from within ESXi.
VMware, Inc. 63