IBM 2109 Service Guide - Page 101

Chapter 8. Zoning overview This section contains an overview of zoning. For additional information, refer to the IBM SAN Fibre Channel Switch 2109 Model S16 User's Guide. Zoning allows you to partition your Storage Area Network (SAN) into logical groupings of devices that can access each other. Using IBM zoning, you can arrange fabric-connected devices into logical groups, or zones, over the physical configuration of the fabric. Zones can be configured dynamically. They can vary in size depending on the number of fabric connected devices, and devices can belong to more than one zone. Because zone members can access only other members of the same zone, a device not included in a zone is not available to members of that zone. Therefore, you can use zones to: v Administer security Use zones to provide controlled access to fabric segments and to establish barriers between operating environments. For example, isolate systems with different uses or protect systems in a heterogeneous environment. v Customize environments Use zones to create logical subsets of the fabric to accommodate closed user groups or to create functional areas within the fabric. For example, include selected devices within a zone for the exclusive use of zone members, or create separate test or maintenance areas within the fabric. v Optimize IT resources Use zones to consolidate equipment, logically, for IT efficiency, or to facilitate time-sensitive functions. For example, create a temporary zone to back up non-member devices. Figure 33 on page 86 illustrates three zones with some overlap. It also contains devices that are not assigned to a zone, and are thus not active in the fabric if IBM zoning is enabled. © Copyright IBM Corp. 1999, 2000 85