24 Installation Guide (AA-RTDWC-TE, July 2004)

Switch Features

35Edge Switch 2/24 Installation Guide

Caution: If zoning is implemented by port number, a change to the switch

fiber optic cable configuration disrupts zone operation and may incorrectly

include or exclude a device from a zone.

If zoning is implemented by WWN, removal and replacement of a device HBA

or Fibre Channel interface (thereby changing the device WWN) disrupts zone

operation and may incorrectly include or exclude a device from a zone.

In Open Fabric mode, only zoning by WWN is supported. Zoning by port

numbers is not.

Zones are grouped into zone sets. A zone set is a group of zones that is enabled

(activated) or disabled across all switches in a multi-switch fabric. Only one zone

set can be enabled at one time.

Multi-Switch Fabrics

A Fibre Channel topology that consists of one or more interconnected switches or

switch elements is called a fabric. Operational software provides the ability to

interconnect switches (through expansion port (E_Port) connections) to form a

multi-switch fabric. The data transmission path through the fabric is typically

determined by fabric elements and is user-transparent. Subject to zoning

restrictions, devices attached to any interconnected switch can communicate with

each other through the fabric.