Joining Zoned Fabrics - HP StorageWorks 64 - SAN Director Switch Planning Manual

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Joining Zoned Fabrics

Directors and edge switches are linked through ISLs to form multi-switch fabrics.
In a multi-switch fabric, the active zoning configuration applies to the entire
fabric. Any change to the configuration applies to all directors and switches in the
fabric.
When fabrics attempt to join, participating fabric elements exchange active zone
configurations and determine if their configurations are compatible. If the
configurations are compatible, the fabrics join. The resulting configuration is a
single zone set containing zone definitions from each fabric.
If the configurations cannot merge, E_Ports that form the ISL for each fabric
element become segmented. The ports cannot transmit data frames between
attached switches (Class 2 or 3 traffic), but can transmit control frames (Class F
traffic).
Zoning configurations are compatible if there are no duplicate domain IDs, the
active zone set name is the same for each fabric (or switch in the fabric), and
zones with the same names in each fabric have identical members.
SAN High Availability Planning Guide
Default zone — The default zone consists of all devices not configured as
members of a zone in the active zone set. If there is no active zone set, all
devices attached to the fabric are in the default zone. For the default zone:
— The default zone is enabled or disabled separately from the active zone
set.
— If the default zone is enabled, all devices not in a specified zone are
included in the default zone and can communicate with each other.
— If the default zone is disabled and there is no active zone set, the zoning
feature is completely disabled for the fabric and no devices can
communicate with each other.
— All devices are considered to be in the default zone if there is no active
zone set.
RSCN service requests — Registered state change notification (RSCN)
service requests are transmitted to all N_Ports attached to the director or
switch when the zoning configuration is changed.
Broadcast frames — Class 3 broadcast frames are transmitted to all N_Ports
attached to the director or switch, regardless of zone membership.
Physical Planning Considerations
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