.Part 1 Architecture HP SAN Design Reference Guide 785351-001

B-series fabric groups
In B-series routing configurations, devices in different fabrics can be grouped to form LSANs. An
LSAN is similar to a Fibre Channel zone, but can extend through a router to include devices in
other fabrics. This configuration, which includes the physical fabrics (subnetworks), LSANs, and
router, is called a Meta SAN. A Meta SAN consolidates multiple fabrics into a single entity.
Figure 14 (page 47) shows Fabric 1, Fabric 2, and Fabric 3, each containing one or more switches.
Any B-series switch can be used in these fabrics. In each fabric, the switches must use the same
version of switch firmware for like switches and must have the same variable settings (for example,
R_A_TOV). Each fabric has a unique set of fabric services. For fabric restrictions, see “B-series
switches and fabric rules” (page 91).
Fabrics connected with routing must comply with configuration rules for a routed fabric. See “1606
Extension SAN Switch and DC Dir Switch MP Extension Blade fabric rules” (page 108), “Fibre
Channel routing, 400 MP Router, and MP Router Blade fabric rules” (page 110), and “MP Router
fabric rules” (page 114). The fabrics can have identical domain names and zoning definitions.
The 1606 Extension SAN Switches or DC Dir Switch MP Extension Blades and MP Routers also
provide FCIP capabilities, allowing implementation of Fibre Channel routing and FCIP SAN
extension. See “Integration of Fibre Channel routing and FCIP” (page 58).
B-series fabric partitioning using Virtual Fabrics
In B-series configurations, a switched fabric is partitioned into several Virtual Fabrics
(Figure 15 (page 47)). Each Virtual Fabric has its own set of resources, such as administrator and
users, Name Server, and zoning database. Devices can be shared across multiple Virtual Fabric
administrative domains using IFR, thus increasing resource sharing. B-series Virtual Fabrics and
Virtual Fabrics with IFR are included on all B-series switches using firmware 5.2x (or later) without
the need for a router.
B-series Virtual Fabrics architecture
In B-series configurations, a switched fabric is partitioned into several logical switches and logical
fabrics by using the Virtual Fabrics feature. See Figure 15 (page 47). Logical switches within a
physical switch can be created by dividing the switch ports and assigning them to individual logical
switches. An FID also must be configured to each logical switch. A logical fabric is a fabric that
contains at least one logical switch; but logical switches can be connected to other logical switches
with the same FID to form logical fabrics across multiple switches. Devices can be shared across
multiple logical fabrics using IFR, thus increasing resource sharing. B-series Virtual Fabrics and
Virtual Fabrics with IFR are included on B-series switch models: DC SAN Backbone Director, DC04
Director, 8/80 SAN Switch and 8/40 SAN Switch only.
C-series fabric partitioning
In C-series configurations, a single fabric is partitioned into several subnetworks or logical groups
of switches or switch ports called VSANs. The group of VSANs is called a SAN.
Figure 16 (page 47) shows VSAN 1, VSAN 2, and VSAN 3, each a set of switch ports on one
or more C-series switches. A VSAN can extend across multiple switches. Each VSAN has a unique
set of fabric services with independent fabric management. VSANs can share devices by using
the license-enabled IVR function. IVR is distributed across all switches in the SAN, and there is no
separate router hardware. Because the switches are a connected set, they must run the same version
of switch firmware.
H-series switch fabric routing
You can configure any H-series switch 8 Gb port as a TR_Port, which you use to connect devices
on the H-series switch to devices on a remote fabric. You do this by configuring TR mapping, which
establishes a route to connect one device on the H-series switch to one device on a remote fabric
48 Fibre Channel routing