Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switch Fabric Manager Software Configuration Guide, NX-OS 4.0 (OL-16598-01, June 2008)

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25-2
Nexus 5000 Series Switch Fabric Manager Software Configuration Guide
OL-16598-01
Chapter 25 Configuring Fabric Binding
Information About Fabric Binding
Port Security Versus Fabric Binding
Port security and fabric binding are two independent features that can be configured to complement each
other. Table 25-1 compares the two features.
Port-level checking for xE ports is as follows:
• The switch login uses both port security binding and fabric binding for a given VSAN.
• Binding checks are performed on the port VSAN as follows:
– E port security binding check on port VSAN
– TE port security binding check on each allowed VSAN
While port security complements fabric binding, they are independent features and can be enabled or
disabled separately.
Fabric Binding Enforcement
To enforce fabric binding, configure the switch world wide name (sWWN) to specify the xE port
connection for each switch. Enforcement of fabric binding policies are done on every activation and
when the port tries to come up. For a Fibre Channel VSAN, the fabric binding feature requires all
sWWNs connected to a switch to be part of the fabric binding active database.
Table 25-1 Fabric Binding and Port Security Comparison
Fabric Binding Port Security
Uses a set of sWWNs and a persistent domain
ID.
Uses pWWNs/nWWNs or fWWNs/sWWNs.
Binds the fabric at the switch level. Binds devices at the interface level.
Authorizes only the configured sWWN stored in
the fabric binding database to participate in the
fabric.
Allows a preconfigured set of Fibre Channel
devices to logically connect to a SAN port. The
switch port, identified by a WWN or interface
number, connects to a Fibre Channel device (a host
or another switch), also identified by a WWN. By
binding these two devices, you lock these two ports
into a group (or list).
Requires activation on a per VSAN basis. Requires activation on a per VSAN basis.
Allows specific user-defined switches that are
allowed to connect to the fabric, regardless of the
physical port to which the peer switch is
connected.
Allows specific user-defined physical ports to
which another device can connect.
Does not learn about switches that are logging in. Learns about switches or devices that are logging in
if learning mode is enabled.
Cannot be distributed by CFS and must be
configured manually on each switch in the
fabric.
Can be distributed by CFS.