Brocade Fabric OS Administrators Guide (Supporting Fabric OS v7.3.0) - Manual (Page 331)

= z1; z2 is different from cfg1 = z2; z1 , even though members of the configuration are the
same. If zone set members on two switches have the same names defined in the configuration, make
sure zone set members are listed in the same order.
NOTE
In a large fabric, especially with 1 MB or more zone configuration takes some amount of time for zone
merge. This may cause host device to not to discover the target in other end of the fabric for a short
duration. This problem may not be seen if the you follow the guidelines of joining the stable fabric one
by one with devices offline and ensure that the zone merge operation is completed before enabling the
devices.
Fabric segmentation and zoning
If the connections between two fabrics are no longer available, the fabric segments into two separate
fabrics. Each new fabric retains the same zone configuration.
If the connections between two fabrics are replaced and no changes have been made to the zone
configuration in either of the two fabrics, then the two fabrics merge back into one single fabric. If any
changes that cause a conflict have been made to either zone configuration, then the fabrics may
segment.
Zone merging scenarios
The following tables provide information on merging zones and the expected results:
• Table 64 : Defined and effective configurations
• Table 65 : Different content
• Table 66 : Different names
• Table 67 : TI zones
• Table 68 : Default access mode
• Table 72 : Mixed Fabric OS versions
Zone merging scenarios: Defined and effective configurations TABLE 64
Description Switch A Switch B Expected results
Switch A has a defined
configuration.
Switch B does not have a
defined configuration.
defined:cfg1: zone1:
ali1; ali2effective:
none defined: none effective:
none Configuration from Switch A
to propagate throughout the
fabric in an inactive state,
because the configuration is
not enabled.
Switch A has a defined and
effective configuration.
Switch B has a defined
configuration but no effective
configuration.
defined: cfg1zone1:
ali1; ali2 effective:
cfg1: defined: cfg1zone1: ali1;
ali2 effective: none Configuration from Switch A
to propagate throughout the
fabric. The configuration is
enabled after the merge in the
fabric.
Fabric segmentation and zoning
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