Fabric OS Administrator's Guide v7.0.0 (53-1002148-02, June 2011)

244 Fabric OS Administrator’s Guide
53-1002148-02
Zoning overview
11
The different types of zone configurations are:
• Defined Configuration
The complete set of all zone objects defined in the fabric.
• Effective Configuration
A single zone configuration that is currently in effect. The effective configuration is built when
you enable a specified zone configuration.
• Saved Configuration
A copy of the defined configuration plus the name of the effective configuration, which is saved
in flash memory. (You can also provide a backup of the zone configuration and restore the zone
configuration.) There might be differences between the saved configuration and the defined
configuration if you have modified any of the zone definitions and have not saved the
configuration.
• Disabled Configuration
The effective configuration is removed from flash memory.
If you disable the effective configuration, the Advanced Zoning feature is disabled on the fabric,
and all devices within the fabric can communicate with all other devices (unless you previously set
up a default zone, as described in “Default zoning mode” on page 255). This does not mean that
the zone database is deleted, however, only that there is no configuration active in the fabric.
On power-up, the switch automatically reloads the saved configuration. If a configuration was active
when it was saved, the same configuration is reinstated on the local switch.
Zoning enforcement
Zoning enforcement describes a set of predefined rules that the switch uses to determine where to
send incoming data. Fabric OS uses hardware-enforced zoning. Hardware-enforced zoning means
that each frame is checked by hardware (the ASIC) before it is delivered to a zone member and is
discarded if there is a zone mismatch. When hardware-enforced zoning is active, the Fabric OS
switch monitors the communications and blocks any frames that do not comply with the effective
zone configuration. The switch performs this blocking at the transmit side of the port on which the
destination device is located.
There are two methods of hardware enforcement:
• Frame-based hardware enforcement: All frames are checked by the hardware.
• Session-based hardware enforcement: The only frames checked by hardware are the ELS
frames (such as PLOGI and RNID) used to establish a session.
The method used depends on how the zones are configured.
A zone can contain all WWN members, or all D,I members, or a combination of WWN and D,I
members.
Frame-based hardware enforcement is in effect if all members of a zone are identified the same
way, either using WWNs or D,I notation, but not both. If the zone includes aliases, then the aliases
must also be defined the same way as the zone.
Session-based hardware enforcement is in effect if the zone has a mix of WWN and D,I members.
If a port is in multiple zones, and is defined by WWN in one zone and by D,I in another, then
session-based hardware enforcement is in effect.