The N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) is an industry-standard technology that helps you to configure an NPIV capable Fibre Channel adapter with multiple, virtual worldwide port names (WWPNs). With virtual adapters, you can connect logical partitions with each other without using physical hardware. It enables devices or virtual machines (VMs) to access network resources when a physical adapter is unavailable. The virtual Fibre Channel feature in Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows Server 2012 makes it possible for you to virtualize. There are two basic cable types available for 10GbE applications: copper and fiber-optic cables. At higher Gigabit speeds (10Gb+), copper cables and interconnects generally have too much. A fiber-optic adapter — sometimes called a coupler or bulkhead coupler — is a passive mechanical interface that mates and aligns two terminated optical fibers (i. They have a single fiber connector (simplex), dual fiber connector (duplex) or sometimes four fiber connector (quad) versions.