N_Port ID virtualization (NPIV)

N_Port ID virtualization (NPIV) is a technology that defines how multiple virtual servers can share a single physical Fibre Channel port identification (ID). 

NPIV  allows a single host bus adaptor (HBA) or target port on a storage array to register multiple World Wide Port Names (WWPNs) and N_Port identification numbers.  This allows each virtual server to present a different world wide name to the storage area network (SAN), which in turn means that each virtual server will see its own storage -- but no other virtual server's storage.