Q-Logic 59022-03 D Manuel D’Utilisation

3 – Managing Fabrics

Zoning a Fabric

3-16

59022-03 D

If you join two fabrics, the active zone sets from the two fabrics attempt to merge. 
The fabrics may consist of a single switch or many switches already connected 
together. The switches in the two fabrics attempt to create a new active zone set 
containing the union of each fabric’s active zone set. The propagation of zoning 
information only affects the active zone set, not the configured zone sets, unless 
the Merge Mode is set to "Brocade Proprietary". Refer to 

.

If a zone merge is unsuccessful, the inter-switch links between the fabrics will 
isolate due to a zone merge failure, which will generate an alarm log entry. The 
reason for the E_Port isolation can also be determined by viewing the port 
information. Refer to 

 and the 

 (Port keyword).

A zone merge will fail under the following conditions:

■

The Merge Mode in the two fabrics is different. All switches in the combined 
fabric must have the same merge mode.

■

The two active zone sets have member zones with identical names that 
differ in content or type. For example, consider Fabric A and Fabric B each 
with a zone in its active zone set named “ZS1”. Fabric A "ZS1" contains a 
member specified by  Domain ID 1 and Port 1; Fabric B “ZS1” contains a 
member specified by Domain ID 1 and Port 2. In this case, the merge will fail 
and the inter-switch links between the fabrics will isolate.

When a zone merge failure occurs, the conflict that caused the failure must be 
resolved. If the failure was due to differing Merge Modes, change the Merge Mode 
on the switches in one of the fabrics to match the other fabric. Refer to 

 for information about changing the Merge 

Mode. To permit the fabrics to join, reset the ports that were isolated. Refer to 

1.

You can correct a failure due to a zone conflict by deactivating one of the 
active zone sets or editing the conflicting zones so that their membership is 
the same. You can deactivate the active zone set on one switch if the active 
zone set on the other switch accurately defines your zoning needs. If not, 
you must edit the zone memberships, and reactivate the zone sets. Refer to 

 for information about adding and removing 

zone members. To permit the fabrics to join, reset the ports that were 
isolated. Refer to 

.