Mds-Specific Ficon Advantages; Fabric Optimization With Vsans - Cisco DS-X9530-SF1-K9 - Supervisor-1 Module - Control Processor Configuration Manual

Chapter 24 Configuring FICON
S e n d d o c u m e n t a t i o n c o m m e n t s t o m d s f e e d b a c k - d o c @ c i s c o . c o m .

MDS-Specific FICON Advantages

This section explains the additional FICON advantages in Cisco MDS switches.

Fabric Optimization with VSANs

Generally, separate physical fabrics have a high level of switch management and have a higher
implementation cost. Further, the ports in each island may be over-provisioned depending on the fabric
configuration.
By using the Cisco MDS-specific VSAN technology, you can introduce greater efficiency between these
physical fabrics by lowering the cost of over-provisioning and reducing the number of switches to be
managed.
VSANs also help you to move unused ports nondisruptively and provide a common redundant physical
infrastructure (see
Figure 24-2
Application
SAN island for
department no.1
SAN island for
department no. 2
SAN island for
department no. 3
VSANs enable global SAN consolidation by allowing you to convert existing SAN islands into virtual
SAN islands on a single physical network. It provides hardware-enforced security and separation
between applications or departments to allow coexistence on a single network. It also allows virtual
rewiring to consolidate your storage infrastructure. You can move assets between departments or
applications without the expense and disruption of physical relocation of equipment.
OL-6973-03, Cisco MDS SAN-OS Release 2.x
Figure 24-2).
VSAN-Specific Fabric Optimization
Separate physical fabrics
servers
Disk
arrays
Department no. 1
Department no. 2
VSAN
Cisco MDS 9000 Family Configuration Guide
MDS-Specific FICON Advantages
Collapsed fabric with
VSANs
Common
storage pool
found among
VSANs
Department no.3
VSAN
24-3