958-000284-007, March 2005)

Zone FlexP ar feature

Because zoning is m

anaged on a fabric-wide basis, all switches and directors in the

fabric must maint

ain the same zoning configuration. This configuration is maintained

automatically through the Fibre Channel protocol.

To keep this information current, RSCN messages are sent through the fabric to inform

attached devices when zoning changes occur, when devices become available, or

when devices become unavailable. In the case where devices become available or

unavailable, RSCNs are sent only to the devices in the same zone. Zoning changes,

however, trigger RSCNs to be sent to all of the devices in the fabric. As fabrics grow

larger and larger, the quantity of RSCNs from zoning changes can create congestion

and disrupt devices, causing them to pause normal activity to determine the status

of the other devices. This can occur even if the new device is not zoned to talk to

the other devices in the fabric.

WiththeZoneFlexParfeatureenabled,RSCNmessagesforazoningchangeare

handled like RSCNs for availability/unavailability changes. Specifically, RSCNs are

restricted to only those devices sha ring at least one common zone with the device that

changed. This way, only devices that are impacted by the change in c onnectivity

receive RSCNs.

The Zone FlexPar feature is available in both O pen Fabric 1.0 and Homogeneous

Fabric 1.0 Interop modes, as well as in environments with loop-attached devices. In

Homogeneous Fabric 1.0 mode, the default zone is treated like any other zone, and

RSCNs are sent only to the affected devices if the default zone is enabled or disabled.

A PFE key is not required for the Zone FlexPa r feature, and it can be enabled or

disabled through CLI for a specific switch. When upgrading to firmware 07.00.00

or installing a new switch with firmware 07.00.00 the feature is enabled by default,

allowing it to work immediately. If the Zone FlexPar feature is not enabled on all

switches in the fabric, the restricted RSCN distribution only applies for devices attached

to switches with the feature enabled.

Enhanced SANtegrity Security Suite

SANtegrity Security Suite enhanced features include authentication suppor t for device

are included as a standard part of the SANtegrity Security Suite in firmware 07.00.00.

Standard features

The following SANtegrity features do not require a license or SANtegrity Binding.

• CHAP Authentica tion for HAFM/SWAPI—Thisprovidesauthentication

of connections from the HAFM appliance ser vice processor and SWA PI Direct

Connect. This ensures that requested HAFM management sessions or SWAPI

Direct Connect sessions are from a trusted source.