B-Series Virtual Fabrics With Ifr - HP StorageWorks 4000/6000/8000 - Enterprise Virtual Arrays Reference Manual

NOTE:
Virtual Fabrics and Administrative Domains are mutually exclusive; they cannot run on the switch
simultaneously. To use Administrative Domains, you must first disable Virtual Fabrics; to use Virtual
Fabrics, you must first delete all administrative domains.
Switch models and fabric topologies
HP supports Meta SANs with all B-series switches in either HP standard or customized topologies.
You must follow all B-series and Meta SAN fabric rules. For more information about Meta SANs, see
"B-series switches and fabric
Benefits
A Meta SAN:
Allows fabric connections (without the need to merge fabrics), providing a high level of fault
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isolation and centralized fabric management
Connects multiple SAN islands (independent fabrics), enabling selective resource sharing
Eliminates the need to move and re-cable equipment in different fabrics
Allows connection of fabrics with the same domain ID and zoning definitions
Reduces the impact of scaling limits for individual fabrics
Increases levels of storage consolidation
Provides centralized backup for multiple fabrics
Allows higher level of fabric management and management consolidation

B-series Virtual Fabrics with IFR

The B-series Virtual Fabrics feature allows you to partition fabrics. You create partitions in the fabric
by creating logical switches within a physical switch and by creating logical fabrics within a physical
switch or across multiple switches. This provides a high level of isolation between Virtual Fabrics
partitions or logical fabrics, allowing you to view individual Fibre Channel subnetworks in a B-series
fabric.
The IFR feature allows you to configure devices in one logical fabric for access to devices in another
logical fabric. B-series Virtual Fabrics and Virtual Fabrics with IFR are included on selected 8 Gb
switches only.
Switch models and fabric topologies
HP supports Virtual Fabrics in either HP standard or customized topologies. You must follow all B-series
fabric rules. For more information, see
Benefits
Virtual Fabrics:
Isolate fabric services and minimize fault propagation
Allow multiple secure fabric partitions over the same physical infrastructure
Restrict device access for improved control and security
Provide selective device access and sharing using the IFR feature
50 SAN fabric topologies
rules" on page 93.
"B-series switches and fabric rules" on page 93.