HP StorageWorks 4000/6000/8000 .HP StorageWorks SAN Design Reference Guide, Pa - Page 50

NOTE: Virtual Fabrics and Administrative Domains are mutually exclusive; they cannot run on the switch simultaneously. To use Administrative Domains, you must first disable Virtual Fabrics; to use Virtual Fabrics, you must first delete all administrative domains. Switch models and fabric topologies HP supports Meta SANs with all B-series switches in either HP standard or customized topologies. You must follow all B-series and Meta SAN fabric rules. For more information about Meta SANs, see "B-series switches and fabric rules" on page 93. Benefits A Meta SAN: • Allows fabric connections (without the need to merge fabrics), providing a high level of fault nl isolation and centralized fabric management • Connects multiple SAN islands (independent fabrics), enabling selective resource sharing • Eliminates the need to move and re-cable equipment in different fabrics • Allows connection of fabrics with the same domain ID and zoning definitions • Reduces the impact of scaling limits for individual fabrics • Increases levels of storage consolidation • Provides centralized backup for multiple fabrics • Allows higher level of fabric management and management consolidation B-series Virtual Fabrics with IFR The B-series Virtual Fabrics feature allows you to partition fabrics. You create partitions in the fabric by creating logical switches within a physical switch and by creating logical fabrics within a physical switch or across multiple switches. This provides a high level of isolation between Virtual Fabrics partitions or logical fabrics, allowing you to view individual Fibre Channel subnetworks in a B-series fabric. The IFR feature allows you to configure devices in one logical fabric for access to devices in another logical fabric. B-series Virtual Fabrics and Virtual Fabrics with IFR are included on selected 8 Gb switches only. Switch models and fabric topologies HP supports Virtual Fabrics in either HP standard or customized topologies. You must follow all B-series fabric rules. For more information, see "B-series switches and fabric rules" on page 93. Benefits Virtual Fabrics: • Isolate fabric services and minimize fault propagation • Allow multiple secure fabric partitions over the same physical infrastructure • Restrict device access for improved control and security • Provide selective device access and sharing using the IFR feature 50 SAN fabric topologies