> # Information About DPVM

> Port VSAN membership on the switch is assigned on a port-by-port basis. By default each port belongs to the default VSAN.

> You can dynamically assign VSAN membership to ports by assigning VSANs based on the device WWN. This method is referred to as Dynamic Port VSAN Membership (DPVM). DPVM offers flexibility and eliminates the need to reconfigure the port VSAN membership to maintain fabric topology when a host or storage device connection is moved between two Cisco MDS 9000 family switches or two ports within a switch. It retains the configured VSAN regardless of where a device is connected or moved. To assign VSANs statically, see "Configuring and Managing VSANs."

> DPVM configurations are based on port world wide name (pWWN) and node world wide name (nWWN) assignments. A DPVM database contains mapping information for each device pWWN/nWWN assignment and the corresponding VSAN. The Cisco NX-OS software checks the database during a device FLOGI and obtains the required VSAN details.

> The pWWN identifies the host or device and the nWWN identifies a node consisting of multiple devices. You can assign any one of these identifiers or any combination of these identifiers to configure DPVM mapping. If you assign a combination, then preference is given to the pWWN.

> DPVM uses the Cisco Fabric Services (CFS) infrastructure to allow efficient database management and distribution. DPVM uses the application driven, coordinated distribution mode and the fabric-wide distribution scope (for information about CFS, refer to the Cisco MDS 9000 Family NX-OS System Management Configuration Guide.

> Note DPVM does not cause any changes to device addressing. DPVM only pertains to the VSAN membership of the device, ensuring that the host gets the same VSAN membership on any port on the switch. For example, if a port on the switch has a hardware failure, you can move the host connection to another port on the switch and you do not need to update the VSAN membership manually.

> Note DPVM is not supported on FL ports. DPVM is supported only on F ports.

> - About DPVM Configuration
> - About DPVM Databases
> - About Autolearned Entries
> - About DPVM Database Distribution
> - About Locking the Fabric
> - About Copying DPVM Databases

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