Re: generating a Linux WWN?

Jeff Garzik
2007-09-27T22:32:20Z

Douglas Gilbert wrote:
> I have come across two types of problems:
> a) the scsi_debug driver looks like one or more logical units
> behind one or more dual ported SAS devices. All generated
> SAS address (for target ports, target devices and lus)
> should be distinct and preferably world wide unique.
> [My scsi_ses driver has a similar problem.]
> b) SAS HBAs that can run in target mode don't have enough
> unique SAS addresses allocated. A SAS initiator (the HBA's
> normal mode) only needs a couple a SAS addresses (e.g.
> 3: one for the 4 internal phys, another for the 4
> external phys and 1 for the SAS initiator _device_
> (but I have never seen that done properly)). When you turn
> the SAS HBA around as a target (or initiator/target for
> bonus points) then each logical unit connected to or
> simulated by the SAS target needs a unique SAS address.
>
> Years ago I asked for linux to get a IEEE OID. In the absence
> of that perhaps we should use 0xffffff. FreeBSD, OpenBSD etc
> face a similar problem.

In absence of a better solution, I would be quite happy to start a
precedent of using a high identifier -- but not 0xffffff.

Maybe we could start using 0xFE for open source operating systems.
FE-00-00 for Linux, FE-00-01 for OpenBSD, etc.

Once it catches on, assign IANA the task of managing the FE-XX-XX
numberspace. The IEEE yearly fee alone for an identifier makes it
unrealistic for open source operating systems, otherwise.

Jeff