> # Proxy Initiator Mode

> In the event that the Fibre Channel storage device requires explicit LUN access control for every host use the transparent initiator mode (presenting one iSCSI host as one Fibre Channel host). Every iSCSI host has to be configured statically. This can mean several configuration tasks for each iSCSI host. If you do not need explicit LUN access control, using the proxy initiator mode simplifies the configuration.

> In this mode, only one virtual host N port (HBA port) is created per IPS port. All the iSCSI hosts connecting to that IPS port will be multiplexed using the same virtual host N port . This mode simplifies the task of statically binding WWNs. LUN mapping and assignment on the Fibre Channel storage array must be configured to allow access from the proxy virtual N port’s pWWN for all LUNs used by each iSCSI initiator that connects through this IPS port. The LUN is then assigned to each iSCSI initiator by configuring iSCSI virtual targets (see the "Static Mapping" topic) with LUN mapping and iSCSI access control (see the "iSCSI Access Control" topic).

> Proxy initiator mode can be configured on a per IPS port basis, in which case only iSCSI initiators terminating on that IPS port will be in this mode.

> When an IPS port is configured in proxy-initiator mode, fabric login (FLOGI) is done through the virtual iSCSI interface of the IPS port. After the FLOGI is completed, the proxy-initiator virtual N port is online in the Fibre Channel fabric and virtual N port is registered in the Fibre Channel name server. The IPS module or MPS-14/2 module registers the following entries in the Fibre Channel name server:

> - iSCSI interface name iSCSI slot /port is registered in the symbolic-node-name field of the name server
> - SCSI_FCP in the FC-4 type field of the name server
> - Initiator flag in the FC-4 feature of the name server
> - Vendor specific flag (iscsi-gw) in the FC-4 type field to identify the N-port device as an iSCSI gateway device in the name server

> Similar to transparent initiator mode, the user can provide a pWWN and nWWN or request a system assigned WWN for the proxy initiator N port.

> Caution | Enabling the proxy initiator mode of an iSCSI interface that is part of an iSLB VRRP group impacts load balancing on the interface. See the "Changing iSCSI Interface Parameters and the Impact on Load Balancing" topic.

> Copyright 2010-2013, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.