Step 2: Defining zones

In port zoning a zone is a set of Fibre Channel ports where each Fibre Channel port is specified by the port number at the switch or fabric to which it is connected. Port zoning allows devices attached to particular ports on the switch to communicate only with devices attached to other ports in the same zone. The switch keeps a table of ports that are allowed to communicate with each other.

In WWN zoning a zone is a set of Fibre Channel ports where each Fibre Channel port is specified by its worldwide name (WWN). WWN zoning allows a device to communicate only with other devices whose WWNs are included in the same zone, see Figure 1.

In both cases you need to ensure that the FCP channel and the target port you want to access are members of the same zone. Otherwise it is impossible to gain access to the target port.

Figure 1. Zoning partitions storage resources.

For further information on how to configure zoning for your setup, refer to the documentation of your switch.