Vsan; Fc Zone; Fcoe - HP 5920 series Configuration Manual

After the server obtains the FC address of the disk device, the server can send FC frames (with the
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FC address of the disk device as the destination FC address) to the FCF switch nearby.
When the FCF switch receives the FC frame from the server, it queries its FIB table for a data
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forwarding path according to the destination FC address, and forwards the FC frame to the
next-hop FCF switch. The next-hop FCF switch forwards the FC frame in the same way, until the FCF
switch at the last hop forwards the FC frame to the destination disk device.
NOTE:
A FIB table is generated by the FCF switch through calculation based on the FC routing protocol or
configured static routes.

VSAN

In actual applications, the data is insecure because the data of all users is transmitted in the same FC
SAN. You can divide one physical FC SAN into multiple Virtual Storage Area Networks (VSANs). In this
manner, VSANs are separated from one another and provide independent services, enhancing
adaptability and security of the network and offering more effective services for users. For more
information about VSAN, see "Configuring VSAN."

FC zone

With VSAN, one physical SAN is divided into multiple logical SANs. A VSAN, however, cannot perform
access control over the servers and disk devices (or the N_Ports) connected to a fabric. N_Ports in the
same VSAN can access one another only if these N_Ports register name services. This creates data
security risks.
Zoning can solve the preceding problem by dividing a VSAN into zones and adding N_Ports to different
zones for different purposes. In this manner, N_Ports in different zones are separated to implement
access control.
For more information about FC zones, see "Configuring FC zones."

FCoE

A data center using the FC SAN technology usually comprises separate local area networks (LANs) and
SANs. LANs carry traditional Ethernet/IP services, and SANs carry network storage services.
To provide services for LANs and use SANs for storage simultaneously, the servers must use independent
Ethernet adapters and FC adapters. In addition, the IP switches and the FCF switches are also
independent and have independent network connections. Such a network needs many switches,
network adapters, and cables, and it brings high investments and maintenance costs and low scalability.
FCoE was introduced to solve this problem. FCoE is a protocol that carries FC over Ethernet. In an FCoE
solution, the server uses an FCoE-capable Ethernet adapter, and the FCoE switch (FCoE forwarder)
integrates the functions of both the traditional IP switch and FCF switch. FCoE reduces the number of
network adapters, switches, and cables, and the network operation and maintenance workload. In all,
FCoE reduces the total cost.
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