Vixel 9000 Series Installation & Configuration Guide CHAPTER 4 Using Fabric Services
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Fabric Services
Because public devices are aware of the special fabric address, they can
communicate with the fabric element and other devices connected to the fabric
element. In Fabric Mode and Fabric (Public/Private) Mode, each public device logs
in to the following services:
• The fabric (through fabric login, or FLOGI), to establish communication.
• The Simple Name Server (SNS), to add their information to the SNS directory.
• The Registered State Change Notification service (RSCN), to receive or send
notice of changes in device power or communication status.
• Fabric Address Notification (FAN) for end devices to verify the validity of all
outstanding Exchanges and operating parameters before using them.
• Probing with port login (PLOGI) and process login (PRLI) to ensure that all FC-
4 types are registered in the SNS database.
Note: Devices on
communication-disabled
ports may appear in the
SNS table even though
zoning is enabled and
active.
After hosts log in to SNS, they request SNS directory information for all other
connected devices. By maintaining names and addresses for each connected device
through SNS, the switch helps hosts discover other devices. In multi-switch
topologies, each switch maintains a complete SNS table by exchanging device
information with other switches. For a complete list of SNS commands supported
by the Vixel 9000 Series Switches, see “Supported SNS Commands” on page 65.
WWN Zoning
You can divide root switches into multiple virtual zones (or work groups), similar to
Virtual Local Area Networking (VLAN). Depending on model and firmware, Vixel
switches in Fabric Mode and Fabric (Public/Private) Mode use either WWN-based
or port-based zoning. You can use zoning to:
• Separate test or maintenance areas from production areas.
• Separate different operating system environments.
• Temporarily block or grant access during backup and other tasks.
• Consolidate equipment logically.
• Designate closed user groups for increased security.
For example, human resources may not want other departments to be able to access
sensitive data on certain hosts. On a switch that uses WWN-based zoning, this data
can be secured by omitting the World-Wide Names (WWNs) of these hosts from all
company-wide zones. On a switch that uses port-based zoning, the hosts containing
sensitive information could be secluded on a switch port (such as port 2) and the
communication between this port and others could then be disabled.
Port-based zoning options are set in the Configure Switch dialog box. WWN-based
zoning options are set through the switch’s Web Manager interface or Command
Line Interface (CLI). For additional information on WWN Zoning, see “Vixel
WWN Zoning Instructions” on page 34.
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