Configuring a SAN Connection

You can connect the library to the host HBA through a storage area network (SAN). Configure zoning on the FC switch so only the backup servers access the library.

Zoning

Use zoning to partition a SAN into logical groupings of devices so that each group is isolated from the other and can only access the devices in its own group. Two types of zoning exist: Hardware zoning (based on physical fabric port number) and Software zoning (defined with the World Wide Node Name (WWNN) or World Wide Port Name (WWPN)).

The dynamic World Wide Name (dWWN) feature assigns world wide names to the library drive slots rather than the drives themselves, which allows you to swap or replace a drive without bringing down the entire operating system.

Persistent Binding

When a server is started, it discovers attached devices and assigns SCSI target and LUN IDs. It is possible for these SCSI assignments to change between restarts. Some operating systems do not guarantee that devices will always be allocated the same SCSI target ID after restarting. Also, some software depends on this association, so you do not want it to change.

The issue of SCSI ID assignment is addressed by persistent binding. Persistent binding is a host bus adapter (HBA) function that allows a subset of discovered targets to be bound between a server and device.

Implemented by a WWNN or WWPN, persistent binding causes a tape drive's WWN to be bound to a specific SCSI target ID.