Will a zoning change affect I/O on fibre channel switches?

Applies to

All versions of OnTap

Answer

Most enterprise switches have a two step process for zoning changes - making the changes and enabling the changes.  Enabling the changes can cause disruption. 

Enabling changes to the zoning database causes the switch to rebuild the zone-table for each port/WWN in zones that were changed. The switch will then send an RSCN to all devices affected by those changes.  Devices in zones that were not changed will not be affected.  Depending on how the host HBA reacts to this RSCN will determine if a host is affected or not. 

Additional Information