HP StorageWorks 2/140 FW 08.01.00 McDATA Products in a SAN Environment Plannin - Page 54

Introduction to McDATA Multi-Protocol Products 1 Product Features In addition to the characteristics and performance features described in this chapter, McDATA managed products also provide a variety of: • Connectivity features. • Security features. • Serviceability features. Connectivity Features McDATA directors, fabric switches, SAN routers, and their associated Element Manager applications support the following connectivity features. Products or product classes that do not support a connectivity feature are noted. • Any-to-any connectivity - Subject to user-defined restrictions such as zoning, directors, fabric switches, and FCP ports on SAN routers define the destination port with which a source port is allowed to communicate and provide any-to-any port connectivity. In addition, most directors and fabric switches provide connectivity for both FCP and FICON devices. NOTE: SAN routers do not support FICON connectivity. • Port blocking - System administrators can block or unblock any director or fabric switch port through the associated Element Manager application. Blocking a port prevents an attached device from logging in to the director or switch or communicating with any attached device. A blocked port continuously transmits a Fibre Channel offline sequence (OLS). NOTE: SAN routers do not support port blocking. • Zoning - System administrators can partition attached devices into restricted-access groups called zones. Devices in the same zone can recognize and communicate with each other through port-to-port connections. Devices in separate zones cannot recognize and communicate with each other. Directors, fabric switches, and SAN routers support port number and world-wide name (WWN) zoning. 1-28 McDATA Products in a SAN Environment - Planning Manual