﻿                        QLogic Driver Readme
                     Marvell Semiconductor Inc.
                        All rights reserved 

Table of Contents
 
1. Package Contents 
2. Supported Adapters/Controllers 
3. Supported Operating Systems
4. Installing the Driver 
5. Additional Notes 
6. Contacting Support
 


1. Package Contents

The QLogic Windows(R) Fibre Channel Adapter STOR miniport driver
package contains the following files: 

 * QL2300.CAT    - Catalog file
 * QL2300.SYS    - QLogic Fibre Channel miniport driver
 * QL2X00.INF    - Driver installation script
 * qlsrvc.exe - Windows service to get hostname and OS name


2. Supported Adapters/Controllers

 * 2500  Series Adapters
 * 2600  Series Adapters
 * 2700  Series Adapters
 * 2800  Series Adapters
 

3. Supported Operating Systems

This release of the FC Adapter STOR miniport driver works with
Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server 2019 as follows:

  * The x64-bit STOR miniport driver version works with the 
   Windows Server 2016 x64 platform. Windows Server 2019 uses WS2016 driver package.


NOTE: For specific service packs (SP) and OS updates, refer to the
descriptions where this software version is posted on the QLogic 
Web site:

  https://www.marvell.com/support/fibre-channel-adapters.jsp


4. Installing the Driver

This section provides procedures for using the Fibre Channel Adapter
STOR miniport driver, including:

 * 4.1 Creating the Driver Disk or Folder  
 * 4.2 Installing the Driver  
 * 4.3 Removing the Driver 
 

4.1 Creating the Driver Disk or Folder 

NOTE: QLogic recommends using a driver disk only for Boot from SAN 
installations.

To create a driver disk or folder:

 1. Go to the QLogic Driver Downloads/Documentation Web page:
    
      http://driverdownloads.qlogic.com
 
 2. In the first box, click "QLogic Products". 

 3. In the selection list, do the following:
   
    a. Click "Fibre Channel Adapters".
    b. In the second box, click your adapter model number.
    c. In the third box, click your Windows platform.
    d. Click the Go button.
 
 4. Under "Drivers", click the download link for the appropriate 
    driver type. 

 5. Read the license agreement, and then click "Agree". 

 6. When prompted, select to save the driver to a temporary location
    on the hard drive.
 
 7. For a Boot from SAN installation, save the driver on a USB flash 
    drive.
 
 8. Run the self-extracting file you just downloaded and enter a 
    temporary directory in the “Unzip to folder” box. If final 
    driver package is not saved in an .EXE format, this step does
    not apply.   

 9. Right-click the driver to extract the driver files to the
    temporary location.


4.2 Installing the Driver 

The operating system manages and controls the driver installation
process. To install the driver, follow these procedures.

NOTE: This section provides the most common ways of installing and 
upgrading the driver for each operating system. For other 
installation methods, consult the operating system documentation. 

Driver installation procedures include the following:

 * 4.2.1 Initial OS installation with the Fibre Channel Adapter as 
         Boot or as Add-On

 * 4.2.2 Adding the Fibre Channel Adapter to the Existing OS 

 * 4.2.3 Updating the Existing Driver

 * 4.2.4 Updating driver on Windows 2016 Nano Server


4.2.1 Initial OS installation with the Fibre Channel Adapter as Boot
      or as Add-On

Depending on your OS, follow the appropriate installation procedure.

Windows Server 2016 and 2019 (all supported versions)
--------------------------------------------------------------
This procedure is only necessary when installing the driver during
the initial OS installation. Windows Server 2012 includes support
for QLogic 4Gb and 8Gb adapters. You can install the supported
driver first, and then upgrade to the new driver.

This procedure requires a USB flash drive (refer to section 4.1
Creating the Driver Disk or Folder).

 1. Using the Setup CD, start the Windows installation procedure. 

 2. When the following message appears, click "Custom (Advanced)": 

     Which type of installation do you want?

 3. When the following message appears, click "Load Driver":

     Where do you want to install Windows? 

 4. At the Load Driver window, insert the USB flash drive in a
    USB port, and then click "OK".

 5. To continue with the standard installation procedure, click 
    "Next".


4.2.2 Adding the Fibre Channel Adapter to the Existing OS 

To add the Fibre Channel adapter's driver to an existing Windows 
system, follow the procedure provided for your Windows version. 

Windows Server 2016 and 2019 (all supported versions)
--------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Connect the adapter to the appropriate slot on your computer
    according to the device manufacturer’s instructions.

 2. Restart or turn on the computer. 
 
    When the computer starts up, Windows detects the newly-installed
    adapter, and then displays the "Found New Hardware with Fibre 
    Channel Controller" message. 

    The Found New Hardware wizard starts installing a device driver
    for the newly-installed adapter. 

 3. Click "I don’t have the disc. Show me other options." 

 4. Click "Browse my computer for driver software (advanced)."

 5. Click "Browse", and then navigate to the folder containing the 
    extracted driver. 

 6. Click "Next". 

 7. On the "The software for this device has been successfully 
    installed" message box, click "Close". 

    Windows may display the following message: 

     System Settings Change. Your hardware settings have changed. 
     You must restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
     Do you want to restart your computer now? 

8. If there are other adapters or ports to update, click "No". If
   all adapters and ports have been updated, click "Yes" to 
   immediately restart the computer.

NOTE: If Windows automatically installs the driver for the newly-
added Fibre Channel adapter upon startup, without prompting you for a
selection (for example, Windows Vista installed an Inbox driver), go
to Section 4.2.3, "Updating the Existing Driver."


4.2.3 Updating the Existing Driver 

To install an updated version of the driver, follow the procedure
provided for your Windows version. 

Windows Server 2016 and 2019 (all supported versions)
--------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Start the Device Manager.

 2. Scroll down the list of hardware types, and then double-click 
    "Storage Controller". 

 3. From the devices list, double-click "QLogic Fibre Channel HBA". 

 4. Click the "Driver" tab, and then click "Update Driver" to start 
    the Hardware Update Wizard. 

 5. Type the path to the folder containing the extracted driver, 
    then click "Next".

 6. On the "Windows has successfully updated your software" window, 
    click "Close".

4.2.4 Updating driver on Windows 2016 Nano Server

 1. Go to Qlogic driver directory (e.g, c:>cd QLogiDriver)
 2. Execute the following command: pnputil.exe /add-driver .\ql2x00.inf /install

NOTE: Microsoft does not support creating vFC (Virtual Fibre Channel) ports on Nano Server

4.3. Removing the Driver 

To remove the driver in a Windows environment, uninstall it as a Plug
and Play device:

 1. Turn off your computer. 

 2. Remove the device from your computer according to the 
    manufacturer's instructions. 

NOTE: You do not usually have to use the Device Manager or the 
Hardware wizard to uninstall a Plug and Play device. After you remove
the device from your computer and restart your system, Windows 
recognizes that it has been removed.


5. Additional Notes

5.1 Removing the driver does not restore some registry entries

To ensure the driver functions properly, the driver installation
script uses the QL2x00.inf file to change some of the system-related
registry entries, such as the disk timeout value of the system disk
driver. Removing the driver does not restore those values.


5.2 Changing Queue Depth Parameter

Sets the maximum depth of the device queue.
For driver version 9.4.3.21 or before, this setting is not preserved over driver update. 
Please use the following procedure to change the qd parameter:

    1. Click on "Start", select "Run", and open the REGEDIT/REGEDT32 program.
    2. Select HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and follow the tree structure down to
       the QLogic driver as follows:

          HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
             SYSTEM
                CurrentControlSet
                   Services
                      Ql2300
                         Parameters
                            Device

    3. Double click on

           DriverParameter:REG_SZ:qd=32

    4. If the string "qd=" does not exist, append to end of 
       string

          ;qd=32 (Range 0 to 254; default is 20)

    5. Click OK.
    
    6. Exit the Registry Editor, then shutdown and reboot the system.

5.3 Increasing the Maximum Number of Targets Per NPIV

QLogic FC adapters support 16 Targets per NPIV per port by default.
This value is sufficient for most environments.  In certain environments if
support for a large number of targets is required, please use the following
procedure to change the numnpiv (Maximum Number of NPIVs supported per adapter port)
parameter from the default value of “64”.  By reducing the numnpiv value, you can increase
the Maximum Number of Targets supported per adapter port for a given NPIV.The setting is
global and applies to all QLogic adapters in the server that support NPIV.

    1. Click on "Start", select "Run", and open the REGEDIT/REGEDT32 program.
    2. Select HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and follow the tree structure down to
       the QLogic driver as follows:

          HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
             SYSTEM
                CurrentControlSet
                   Services
                      Ql2300
                         Parameters
                            Device

    3. Double click on

           DriverParameter:REG_SZ:numnpiv=32

    4. If the string "numnpiv=" does not exist, append the following to the end of  
       string

          ;numnpiv=32

    5. Values can be 16,32,64,128.  
       The default value is 64.   

       Below is a summary of the maximum number of targets 
	   supported per NPIV per  adapter port for a given value of numnpiv.

       numnpiv    maximum number of targets supported
         16         64
         32         32
         64         16
         128        8
         
       Note: If the value entered for numnpiv is not in the above list,
	   or is out of range, the inputted value will be ignored and the default
	   will be used. No error message is generated

    6. Click OK.
    
    7. Exit the Registry Editor, then reboot the system for the parameter value change to take effect.
   
    Note: For Windows Server 2012 and above, half of the virtual ports (numnpiv value) are
	  designated for Virtual Fibre Channel (vFC) and these vFC NPIVs are managed using the Windows 2012 Hyper-V Manager.  
	  The setting of numnpiv is applicable for 2500 and 2600 Series and requires a minimum driver version
          of 9.1.11.23 to be installed.   


5.4 NVMe system requirement

Server with connected target devices on NVMe over fabric is required to have minimum of two logical processors.



6. Contacting Support

   For further assistance, contact QLogic Technical Support at:
   https://www.marvell.com/support/fibre-channel-adapters.jsp


(c) Copyright 2021. All rights reserved worldwide. QLogic and the
QLogic logo are registered trademarks of Marvell Semiconductor Inc.. 
All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered 
trademarks of their respective owners.