Ciprico 4400 user manual Background Information, Fabric Switch Zoning Techniques

MediaVault 4440 User Manual

Fabric Switch Zoning

IMPORTANT: The techniques and examples described in this appendix are for information only. Many different zone and port configurations are possible, and not all configurations have been validated and/or verified for use with the MV 4440 unit.

Background Information

If an array or multiple arrays and multiple computers are attached to a fibre channel switch, by default the switch acts as a hub, relaying information from all ports to all other ports.

A number of problems are created, however. If a computer has two ports, both ports being connected to the switch, and a single channel array is connected to the switch, the computer sees the array twice. In most cases, if this occurs, the computer is confused and does not for- mat the array properly. With a dual-channel array, the computer sees it four times. To prevent this, something must be done with the switch.

Fabric Switch Zoning Techniques

As Fibre channel switches advanced, they became managed. They used switch manage- ment software to control the settings on-the-fly. Also, different ports could be grouped into lay- ers. The ability of a switch to have this capability is called a "Fabric Switch." The process of doing the settings is called "Zoning," because several zones are created that do not affect each other. Zoning also fixes another problem: unused ports.

There are three techniques for zoning:

•Plain and Simple (has a tendency to be “trafficky”)

•Host Grouped

•1:1 Relational

E-2 MV 4440_Ciprico Inc.