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Troubleshooting ESX and ESXi connectivity to fibre channel arrays
Symptoms
One ESX host or ESXi host cannot see any targets from all storage arrays.
The storage array does not report the HBA of the ESX or ESXi as being logged in.
fibre-channel-connectivity
Purpose
This article is designed to guide you through the most common steps to identify a connectivity problem from ESX or ESXi to a shared storage device.
Resolution
Please validate that each troubleshooting step below is true for your environment. Each step will provide instructions or a link to a document, in order to eliminate possible causes and take corrective action as necessary. The steps are ordered in the most appropriate sequence to isolate the issue and identify the proper resolution. Please do not skip a step.
To troubleshoot connectivity issues to a fibre channel array:
Verify that the Host Bus Adapter (HBA) firmware is at the certified level and is in the VMware Hardware Compatibility Guide. You may need to contact your storage array vendor for instructions on this procedure. For more information, see the Fibre Channel SAN Configuration Guide.
Verify that the initiator is registered on the storage array, and that the storage array is configured correctly. You may need to contact your storage array vendor for further assistance. For more information, see Fibre Channel SAN Configuration Guide.
Verify all the fibre channel physical hardware:
The fibre switch and the Gigabit Interface Converter (GBIC) units in the switch.
The fibre cables between the SAN and the ESX Server.
The Host Bus Adapter (HBA).
Note: You may need to contact your hardware vendor for more information about verifying correct functionality.
Note: If your problem still exists after trying the steps in this article, please:
File a support request with VMware Support and note this KB Article ID in the problem description. For more information, see How to Submit a Support Request.
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