HP StorageWorks 8/80 HP StorageWorks Fabric OS 6.1.x administrator guide (5697 - Page 210

Merging zones Table 57 presents zoning database size limitations for various Fabric OS release versions. The maximum size of a zone database is the upper limit for the defined configuration, and it is determined by the amount of flash memory available for storing the defined configuration. Table 57 Zoning database limitations Fabric OS version Maximum database size (KB) 2.4.0 64 2.5.0 64 2.6.0 96 3.0.0 128 3.1.0 96 3.2.0 256 4.0.0, 4.1.0, 4.2.0 128 4.4.0 5.0.1 5.1.0 5.2.0 or later 256 256 256 1024 (see the following note for restrictions) Before linking two switches together, it is important that you know the zone database limit of adjacent switches. For example, when switches running Fabric OS 3.2, 4.4.0, or 5.1.0 discover that the zone merge database is larger than its pre-determined zone database size limit, they issue a reject notification before symmetrically segmenting their own ends of the ISL, thereby preventing the new switch from joining the fabric. NOTE: Fabric OS 5.2.0 and later support a zoning database size of 1 MB. To support a 1 MB zoning database, the entire fabric must be upgraded to 5.2.0 or later. If any pre-5.2.0 switches are part of the fabric, the maximum zone database size is 256 KB. If the zoning database size exceeds 256 KB, switches not upgraded to Fabric OS 5.2.0 or later are segmented out of the fabric. Use the cfgSize command to display the zoning database size. Symmetrical segmentation occurs when both ends of an ISL are shut down. Subsequently, no frames are exchanged between those two switches. Asymmetrical segmentation not only prevents frames from being exchanged between switches, but also causes routing inconsistencies. The best way to avoid either type of segmentation is to know the zone database size limit of adjacent switches. The following tables provide the expected behavior based on different database sizes after a zone merge is specified. Table 58 Resulting database size: 0 to 96K Receiver Initiator Fabric OS 3.1 Fabric OS 3.2 Fabric OS 4.0/ 4.1/ 4.2 Fabric Fabric OS OS 4.4.0 5.0.0/ 5.0.1/ 5.1.0 Fabric OS 5.2.0 or later Fibre Channel Router XPath 7.3 Fabric OS 3.1 Fabric OS 3.2 Join Join Join Join Join Join Join Join Join Join Join Join Join Join Join Join 210 Administering Advanced Zoning