Merging Zoned Fabrics; Rules For Merging Zoned Fabrics; Merging Fabrics - Results For Zone Configurations - EMC Connectrix EC-1200 Planning Manual

Zoning and Naming
3

Merging Zoned Fabrics

Rules for Merging
Zoned Fabrics
3-10
Connectrix v6.02 Planning Guide
In a multiswitch fabric, the active zoning configuration applies to the
entire fabric. Any change to the configuration applies to all devices in
the fabric.
When fabrics join through an ISL, adjacent directors exchange active
zone configurations and determine if the configurations are
compatible and can merge. As long as zones with the same names in
each fabric have identical members, the zoning configurations are
compatible.
If the configurations are compatible, the fabrics join, reslting in a
single zone set containing zone definitions from each fabric. If the
configurations are not compatible, the E_Ports on each switch become
segmented. Segmented E_Ports cannot carry traffic from attached
devices (Class 2 or Class 3 traffic), but can carry management and
control traffic (Class F traffic) from each switch.
A unique feature of Connectrix switches is the ability to merge active
zone sets that do not share the same zone set name.
Certain rules are enforced to ensure that zoning is consistent across
the fabric. Table 3-1 summarizes the rules for joining two fabrics
through an ISL. The following terms are used in the table:
Zoned — A zone set is active in the fabric and/or the default zone
is disabled. In this case, devices can discover other devices that
are members of the same zone.
Zoning configuration — Combination of the active zone set
definition and the default zone state (enabed or disabled).
Table 3-1 Merging Fabrics — Results for Zone Configurations
Fabric A
Not Zoned
Not Zoned
Zoned
Fabric B Result
Not Zoned Fabrics join successfully, and remain
unzoned
Zoned Fabrics join successfully, and fabric A
inherits zoning configuration from fabric B.
Zoned Fabrics join only if any zones with the same
name on each fabric have identical
members.