Using Zoning; Understanding Zoning; Zone Types; Hard Zones - HP AA979A - StorageWorks SAN Switch 2/8V User Manual

Using Zoning

This chapter explains the concept of zoning and how to use zoning to partition a
fabric into logical groupings of devices.

Understanding Zoning

A zone is a set of fabric-connected devices arranged into a specified grouping.
Any device connected to a fabric can be included in one or more zones. Devices
within a zone possess an awareness of other devices within the same zone; they
are not aware of devices outside of their zone. If zoning is enabled, any device not
in a zone is not able to communicate with any other device.
Zone members (ports, WWNs, and aliases) are grouped into a zone. Zones, in
turn, are grouped into a zone configuration (a collection of zones). Zones can
overlap; that is, a device can belong to more than one zone. A fabric can consist of
multiple zones. There can be any number of zone configurations resident on a
switch, but only one configuration can be active (enabled) at a time. Because the
number of zones allowable is limited only by memory capacity, the maximum
number of zones is virtually unlimited.

Zone Types

Zones can be hard (hardware enforced) or soft (advisory). In a hard zone,
sometimes referred to as a port zone, zone members are specified by physical port
numbers. In a soft zone, at least one zone number is specifically logically by
World Wide Name (WWN).

Hard Zones

In a hard zone, all zone numbers are specified as switch ports; any number of ports
in the fabric can be configured to the zone. When a zone member is specified by
port number, only the individual device port specified is included in the zone.
HP StorageWorks Zoning Version 2.6.1 User Guide
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