Zoning

[Lluis_2]

Hi,

I've been configuring zones on my switches, but I'm not sure if correct.

My configuration:

I have 3 W2K clusters connected to one MSA 1000. It is in redundant configuration: 2 controllers, 2 SAN switches 2/16 and 2 HBA on each server. There is also a fiber connected MSL5030 tape library.

My current zone configuration:

- 1 zone for each cluster (3 zones)
- In each zone is included the 2 nodes of the cluster, the MSA and Tape Library

This configuration is in order to isolate each cluster from the other. But, should I create a new zone only for backup? It is correct to put MSA1000 and Tape Library in the same zone?

Any suggestion?

Thanks,
Lluis.

[Ricardo Rocha]

Hi

The idea of having one cluster per zone is good. I usually also separate the "data" zoning from the "backup". By this you also separate eventual problems....

Best regards,

Ricardo

[Leif Halvarsson_2]

Hi,
Zoning is best applicable to large enviroments when you want to restrict access for hosts to specific storage devices. If I understand you correct, in your case all hosts should have access to both the disk system and the library. Maybe just one zone (or no zoning at all) will be as good.

[Sunil Sharma_1]

Hi,

In my opinion your configuration is good.
one zone per cluster and I do agree with your idea keeping Backup zone seperate.

Sunil

[Massimo Bianchi]

Hi,
the backup zone is not compulsory but raccomended, for performance resons.

That way you isolate the traffic and , in a plan for a future growth, the environtment is already setup.

For Leif: AFAIK, in a Windows environtment zoning is necessary, since at boot each window server will try to do a scsi reserve on the disks, thus crashing every other host in the san, expecially clusters.

HTH,
Massimo

[Leif Halvarsson_2]

Hi,
Massimi,
Zoning can't be used alone as it only zones (current implemention of zoning) on device ow WWN level , not on LUNs. If several hosts should access the same disk system (but of course, separate LUNs). you nust complete with LUN maskíng in the HBAs or array controller.

As I understand, some (all ?) vendors (for example Brocade) have anounced that future versions of their switches will support zoning on LUN level

[Randy Weis · Accepted solution]

You should always zone the library separate from the disk. It is further recommended that you use a separate HBA for backups. If you can't, then I suggest your zone one of your two HBAs in each cluster server with the library NSR. I make some assumptions below, but the principals remain the same.

Your backup zone for Cluster A on Switch 1 would be:
ClusterA_Server1_HBA1
ClusterA_Server2_HBA1
Library_NSR

Your Disk Zone for Cluster A on Switch 1 would be:
ClusterA_Server1_HBA1
ClusterA_Server2_HBA1
MSA_Port1

Your Disk Zone for Cluster A on Switch 2 would be:

ClusterA_Server1_HBA2
ClusterA_Server2_HBA2
MSA_Port2

[Lluis_2]

Thanks to all for your responses, they have helped.

Regards,
Lluis.