Using Zoning; Understanding Zoning; Zone Types - HP StorageWorks 8B - FC Entry Switch 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 group 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.
Zone members (ports, WWNs, or aliases) are grouped into a zone; in turn, zones are grouped in 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.
A zone configuration can include both hard and soft zones (described below) and there can be any
number of zone configurations resident on a switch; however only one configuration can be active,
that is enabled, at a time. The number of zones allowable is limited only by memory usage.

Zone Types

The following list describes the FC Entry Switch 8B, FC Switch 8B, and FC 16B zone types:
Port Zone
WWN Zone
Mixed Zone
Zones can be hard (hardware enforced) or soft (advisory). In a hardware enforced zone, zone
members can be specified by port number, or by WWN, but not both. A software enforced zone is
created when a port member and WWN member are in the same zone.
Zoning User's Guide
A zone containing members specified by switch ports (domain ID, port number),
or aliases of switch ports, only.
A zone containing members specified by device World Wide Name (WWNs), or
aliases of WWNs, only. WWN zones are hardware enforced in the FC Entry
Switch 8B, FC Switch 8B, and FC 16B products, and are software enforced in the
HP Brocade 2400 and 2800 switches and the FC 6164.
A zone containing some members specified by WWN and some members
specified by switch port. Mixed zones are software enforced through the fabric
name server only. This means that some hosts may need to be rebooted for
zoning to take effect.
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