5
of the network and offers more effective services for users. For more information about VSANs, see
"Configuring VSANs."
FC zone
The VSAN technique divides one physical SAN into multiple logical SANs. A VSAN, however, cannot
perform access control over the servers and disk devices (or the N_Ports) connected to a fabric. N_Ports
in the same VSAN can access one another only if these N_Ports register name services. This creates data
security risks.
Zoning can solve the preceding problem by dividing a VSAN into zones and adding N_Ports to different
zones for different purposes. N_Ports in different zones are separated to implement access control.
For more information about FC zones, see "Configuring FC zones."
FCoE
A data center using the FC SAN technology typically includes separate local area networks (LANs) and
SANs. LANs carry traditional Ethernet/IP services, and SANs carry network storage services.
To provide services for LANs and use SANs for storage simultaneously in a traditional network, the
servers must use independent Ethernet adapters and FC adapters. In addition, the IP switches and the FC
switches are also independent and have independent network connections. Such a network needs many
switches, network adapters, and cables, and it brings high investments and maintenance costs and low
scalability.
FCoE was introduced to solve this problem. FCoE transports FC over Ethernet. In an FCoE solution:
• The server uses an FCoE-capable Ethernet adapter.
• The FCoE switch (FCoE forwarder) integrates the functions of both the traditional IP switch and FC
switch.
FCoE reduces the number of network adapters, switches, and cables, and the network operation and
maintenance workload. In all, FCoE reduces the total cost.
Figure 5 FCoE for I/O consolidation
LAN SAN LAN SAN
Traditional network
Ethernet switch
Ethernet switch FC switch
Ethernet
switch
FCF switch
FC switch
FCF switch
Server Server
I/O consolidation with FCoE
Ethernet
FC
FCoE
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