Zoning and its types
Zoning is an Fibre Channel switch function that enables node ports within the fabric to be logically segmented into groups and communicate with each other within the group. If zoning is not configured, the fabric controller sends an RSCN to all the nodes in the fabric. Involving the nodes that are not impacted by the change results in increased fabric-management traffic.
Zoning also provides access control, along with other access control mechanisms, such as LUN masking. Zoning provides control by allowing only the members in the same zone to establish communication with each other.
Types of Zoning:
Port zoning: Uses the physical address of switch ports to define zones. In port zoning, access to node is determined by the physical switch port to which a node is connected. The zone members are the port identifier (switch domain ID and port number) to which HBA and its targets (storage devices) are connected. If a node is moved to another switch port in the fabric, port zoning must be modified to allow the node, in its new port, to participate in its original zone. However, if an HBA or storage device port fails, an administrator just has to replace the failed device without changing the zoning configuration.
WWN zoning: Uses World Wide Names to define zones. The zone members are the unique WWN addresses of the HBA and its targets (storage devices). A major advantage of WWN zoning is its flexibility. WWN zoning allows nodes to be moved to another switch port in the fabric and maintain connectivity to its zone partners without having to modify the zone configuration. This is possible because the WWN is static to the node port.
Mixed zoning: Combines the qualities of both WWN zoning and port zoning. Using mixed zoning enables a specific node port to be tied to the WWN of another node.
Example of WWN zoning on Brocade and Cisco switches:
On Brocade Switch
Brocade:admin> zonecreate "brocade_zone1", "50:00:00:00:00:00:00:11; 10:00:00:00:00:00:00:11"
Brocade:admin> cfgadd "brocade_cfg", "brocade_zone1"
Brocade:admin> cfgenable brocade_cfg
On Cisco switch
switch# conf t
switch(config)# zoneset name cisco_cfg vsan 1
switch(config-zoneset)# zone name cisco_zone1
switch(config-zoneset-zone)# member pwwn 21:00:00:00:00:00:00:12
switch(config-zoneset-zone)# member pwwn 10:00:00:00:00:00:00:12
switch(config-zoneset-zone)# zone commit vsan 1
switch(config)# zoneset activate name cisco_cfg vsan 1
Zoning also provides access control, along with other access control mechanisms, such as LUN masking. Zoning provides control by allowing only the members in the same zone to establish communication with each other.
Types of Zoning:
Port zoning: Uses the physical address of switch ports to define zones. In port zoning, access to node is determined by the physical switch port to which a node is connected. The zone members are the port identifier (switch domain ID and port number) to which HBA and its targets (storage devices) are connected. If a node is moved to another switch port in the fabric, port zoning must be modified to allow the node, in its new port, to participate in its original zone. However, if an HBA or storage device port fails, an administrator just has to replace the failed device without changing the zoning configuration.
WWN zoning: Uses World Wide Names to define zones. The zone members are the unique WWN addresses of the HBA and its targets (storage devices). A major advantage of WWN zoning is its flexibility. WWN zoning allows nodes to be moved to another switch port in the fabric and maintain connectivity to its zone partners without having to modify the zone configuration. This is possible because the WWN is static to the node port.
Mixed zoning: Combines the qualities of both WWN zoning and port zoning. Using mixed zoning enables a specific node port to be tied to the WWN of another node.
Example of WWN zoning on Brocade and Cisco switches:
On Brocade Switch
Brocade:admin> zonecreate "brocade_zone1", "50:00:00:00:00:00:00:11; 10:00:00:00:00:00:00:11"
Brocade:admin> cfgadd "brocade_cfg", "brocade_zone1"
Brocade:admin> cfgenable brocade_cfg
On Cisco switch
switch# conf t
switch(config)# zoneset name cisco_cfg vsan 1
switch(config-zoneset)# zone name cisco_zone1
switch(config-zoneset-zone)# member pwwn 21:00:00:00:00:00:00:12
switch(config-zoneset-zone)# member pwwn 10:00:00:00:00:00:00:12
switch(config-zoneset-zone)# zone commit vsan 1
switch(config)# zoneset activate name cisco_cfg vsan 1
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