Zoning Version 3.1.x/4.1.x - User Guide

Zoning Concepts
22 Zoning Version 3.1.x/4.1.x User Guide
Zone Definitions
A Zone in a fabric is a set of devices that have access to one another. All devices
connected to a fabric may be configured into one or more zones. Every zone has at
least one zone object. Empty zones are not allowed. The zone objects are
described by a semicolon-separated list of member definitions.
The memory constraints for zoning are far larger than the number of devices that
can be connected to a fabric. The zone size for Fabric OS V4.1 is 128 KB. The
zone size for Fabric OS V3.x and V2.x is 96 KB.
Zone definitions and configurations are consistent across reboots and power
cycles. If two switches are connected in a fabric, they can become islands unto
themselves (for example, due to an ISL failure). When rejoined, they will
maintain the same fabric configuration unless one of the switches has had a
configuration change.
Zone Objects
A zone object is defined as any of the following:
■ Physical port number (area number) on the switch
■ Node Worldwide Name
■ Port Worldwide name
Zone objects identified by port number or the area number are specified as a pair
of decimal numbers “d,area”, where “d” is the Domain ID of the switch and
“area” is the port number or area number on that switch. See Table 2 on page 23.
For example, “3,13” specifies port 13 on switch number 3. Another example, “3,
46” specifies port 14 on slot number 3 or area 46. When the physical port number
specifies a zone object, then any and all devices connected to that port are in the
zone. If this physical port is an arbitrated loop, then all devices on the loop are part
of the zone.
World Wide Names (WWNs) are specified as eight hexadecimal numbers
separated by colons; for example “10:00:00:90:69:00:00:8a”. When Node Name
specifies a zone object, then all ports on that device are in the zone. When Port
Name specifies a zone object, then only that single port is in the zone.
The types of zone objects used to define a zone may be mixed and matched. For
example, a zone defined with the following zone objects: “2,12; 2,14;
10:00:00:80:33:3f:aa: 11” would contain whatever devices are connected to
switch 2, ports 12 and 14, and a device with the WWN (either Node Name or Port
Name) “10:00:00:80:33:3f:aa:11” that is connected on the fabric.