Zonesets distribute between DCI sites

[Juraj Papic]

Hello,

I have to remote sites connected via Dark Fiber, this 2 sites are connected to EMC / VPLEX.  Because of the EMC requested I have only 1 vsan for the 2 sites.

At this point in site A I have already added my active zoneset, I just connected the Dark fiber between sites, so in site B i don’t have the same zonesets as site A, my question is:

When I active my zoneset in site B and I do the distribute , will this have any affection or impact on site A?

Thanks!

Hi 154

[Walter Dey · Accepted solution]

Hi Juraj

I assume you have the same VSAN in site A and B ?

See

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/storage-networking/mds-9000-series-multilayer-switches/46202-zoning-switches.html

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps5989/prod_troubleshooting_guide_chapter09186a008067a309.html

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps5989/products_configuration_guide_chapter09186a0080662d35.html

When a zone merge occurs, as long as there is not competing information, each switch learns the others zones. Each switch then has three configuration entities. The switches have:

• The saved configuration in NVRAM. This is the configuration as it was the last time the copy running-configuration startup-configuration command was issued.

• The running configuration. This represents the configuration brought into memory upon the last time the MDS was brought up, plus any changes that have been made to the configuration. With reference to the zoning information, the running configuration represents the configurable database, known as the full database.

• The configured zoning information from the running configuration plus the zoning information learned from the zone merge. This combination of configured and learned zone information is the active zoneset.

[Juraj Papic]

Walter,

So every time I add a zone or zoneset in one of the sites I will have to bring down the ISL (dark fiber) between sites?

When I bring up again the ISL between sites, will the merge be executed automatically?

Would it be better to work enhanced mode?

thanks.!

189

[Walter Dey · Accepted solution]

Hi

If you have one VSAN spanning site A and B, you have one active zoneset per this VSAN; therefore anytime you make changes to your zones on either side, and activate the zoneset, it will apply to both sites. No problem.

I would anyway recommend to do enhanced zoning !

The alternative would be to have different VSAN's in site A resp. B, and run a transit VSAN between the 2 sites; this would require IVR configuration, which is more complex. IVR would definitely best practice for a DCI interconnect based on TPC (FCIP). However, for DWDM I would not do it.

Walter.