Zoning is an FC switch functions that enables nodes within fabric to be logically segmented into groups that can communicate with each other.

A zone consists of selected devices such as host bus adapter and storage devices in the fabric.

Devices assigned to one zone can communicate with other devices in the same zone,but not devices in zones of which they are not members.

This zoning practices provides a fast , efficient and reliable means of controlling the HBA discovery/login process.

Without zoning the HBA will attempt to login into all other ports into fabric during discovery and during the HBA response to a state change notification.

With zoning the time and fabric channel bandwidth required to process discovery and the state changes notification are minimized.

Types of Zoning

a)Port Zoning (hard zoning)-

It uses the FC addresses of the physical ports to define zones

In the port zoning access to data is determined by the physical switch ports to which a node is connected.

The FC address is dynamically assigned when the port logs onto the fabric.Therefore,any change in the fabric configuration affects zoning.

b)WWM Zoning (soft zoning ) -

It uses world wide names to define zones

A major advantage of WWM zoning is its flexibility.

It allows the SAN to be recalled without reconfiguring the zone information.This is possible because the WWN is static to the node port.

c)Mixed Zoning -

It combines the qualities of both WWN zoning and port zoning.Using mixes zoning enables a specific port to be tied to the WWN of a node.

Scenario i)where hard zoning is preferred over soft zoning

ii)where soft zoning is preferred over soft zoning

i)Soft zoning is also WWN zoning & preferred when users need flexibility to physically more attached nodes between switch port cable the SAN , that may take place during switch maintenance and repair without reconfiguring the zone information.This is possible because the WWN is static to the node port.

ii)Hard zoning is called port zoning, it is convenient when there is need for hardware replacement as WWN is uniquely associated with a hardware.Setup is managed using host based tools such as the host as, which makes storage management tasks easy for small and medium enterprises.

Requires user management tasks & less hardware and software elements to set up and operate.

Zoning is an FC switch functions that enables nodes within fabric to be logically segmented into groups that can communicate with each other.

A zone consists of selected devices such as host bus adapter and storage devices in the fabric.

Devices assigned to one zone can communicate with other devices in the same zone,but not devices in zones of which they are not members.

This zoning practices provides a fast , efficient and reliable means of controlling the HBA discovery/login process.

Without zoning the HBA will attempt to login into all other ports into fabric during discovery and during the HBA response to a state change notification.

With zoning the time and fabric channel bandwidth required to process discovery and the state changes notification are minimized.

Types of Zoning

a)Port Zoning (hard zoning)-

It uses the FC addresses of the physical ports to define zones

In the port zoning access to data is determined by the physical switch ports to which a node is connected.

The FC address is dynamically assigned when the port logs onto the fabric.Therefore,any change in the fabric configuration affects zoning.

b)WWM Zoning (soft zoning ) -

It uses world wide names to define zones

A major advantage of WWM zoning is its flexibility.

It allows the SAN to be recalled without reconfiguring the zone information.This is possible because the WWN is static to the node port.

c)Mixed Zoning -

It combines the qualities of both WWN zoning and port zoning.Using mixes zoning enables a specific port to be tied to the WWN of a node.

Scenario i)where hard zoning is preferred over soft zoning

ii)where soft zoning is preferred over soft zoning

i)Soft zoning is also WWN zoning & preferred when users need flexibility to physically more attached nodes between switch port cable the SAN , that may take place during switch maintenance and repair without reconfiguring the zone information.This is possible because the WWN is static to the node port.

ii)Hard zoning is called port zoning, it is convenient when there is need for hardware replacement as WWN is uniquely associated with a hardware.Setup is managed using host based tools such as the host as, which makes storage management tasks easy for small and medium enterprises.

Requires user management tasks & less hardware and software elements to set up and operate.