HP StorageWorks 8/80 HP StorageWorks Fabric OS 6.1.x administrator guide (5697 - Page 221

A merge is not possible if any of the following conditions exist: • Configuration mismatch: Zoning is enabled in both fabrics and the zone configurations that are enabled are different in each fabric. • Type mismatch: The name of a zone object in one fabric is used for a different type of zone object in the other fabric. • Content mismatch: The definition of a zone object in one fabric is different from the definition of zone object with the same name in the other fabric. • Zone Database Size: If the zone database size exceeds the maximum limit of another switch. NOTE: If the zoneset members on two switches are not listed in the same order, the configuration is considered a mismatch, resulting in the switches being segmented from the fabric. For example: cfg1 = z1; z2 is different from cfg1 = z2; z1, even though members of the configuration are the same. If zoneset members on two switches have the same names defined in the configuration, make sure zoneset members are listed in the same order. Fabric segmentation If the connections between two fabrics are no longer available, the fabric will segment into two separate fabrics. Each new fabric will retain the same zone configuration. If the connections between two fabrics are replaced and no changes have been made to the zone configuration in either of the two fabrics, then the two fabrics will merge back into one single fabric. If any changes that cause a conflict have been made to either zone configuration, then the fabrics might segment. Security and zoning Zones provide controlled access to fabric segments and establish barriers between operating environments. They isolate systems with different uses, protecting individual systems in a heterogeneous environment; for example, when zoning is in secure mode, no merge operations occur. Advanced Zoning is configured on the primary Fabric Configuration Server (FCS). The primary FCS switch makes zoning changes and other security-related changes. The primary FCS switch also distributes zoning to all other switches in the secure fabric. All existing interfaces can be used to administer zoning (depending on the policies; see the Secure Fabric OS Administrator's Guide for information about security policies). You must perform zone management operations from the primary FCS switch using a zone management interface, such as Telnet or Advanced Web Tools. You can alter a zoning database, provided you are connected to the primary FCS switch. When two secure fabrics join, the traditional zoning merge does not occur. Instead, a zoning database is downloaded from the primary FCS switch of the merged secure fabric. When E_Ports are active between two switches, the name of the FCS server and a zoning policy set version identifier are exchanged between the switches. If the views of the two secure fabrics are the same, the fabric's primary FCS server downloads the zoning database and security policy sets to each switch in the fabric. If there is a view conflict, the E_Ports are segmented due to incompatible security data. As part of zoning architecture, you must determine which of the two basic zoning architectures (hard or soft) works best for your fabric. With time and planning, the basic hard zone configuration works for most sites. Zone conflict resolution Zone conflicts can be resolved by saving a configuration file with the configUpload command, examining the zoning information in the file, and performing a cut and paste operation so that the configuration information matches in the fabrics being merged. After examining the configuration file, you can choose to resolve zone conflicts by using the cfgClear command followed by the cfgDisable command on the incorrectly configured segmented fabric, Fabric OS 6.1.x administrator guide 221