VSAN

In computer networking, a virtual storage area network (VSAN) is a collection of ports from a set of connected Fibre Channel switches, that form a virtual fabric. Ports within a single switch can be partitioned into multiple VSANs, despite sharing hardware resources. Conversely, multiple switches can join a number of ports to form a single VSAN.

Fibre Channel
Layer 4. Protocol mapping
LUN masking
Layer 3. Common services
Layer 2. Network
Fibre Channel fabric
Fibre Channel zoning
Registered State Change Notification
Layer 1. Data link
Fibre Channel 8B/10B encoding
Layer 0. Physical

Cisco Systems designed VSANs modelled after the virtual local area network (VLAN) concept in Ethernet networking, but applying the idea to a storage area network. In October 2004 the Technical Committee T11 of the International Committee for Information Technology Standards approved VSAN technology as a standard of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

A VSAN, like each Fibre Channel (FC) fabric, can offer different high-level protocols such as FCP, FCIP, FICON, iSCSI. Each VSAN is a separate self-contained fabric using distinctive security policies, zones, events, memberships, and name services. Traffic is also separate.

Unlike a typical fabric that is resized switch-by-switch, a VSAN can be resized port-by-port.

The use of VSANs allows the isolation of traffic within specific portions of the network. If a problem occurs in one VSAN, that problem can be handled with a minimum of disruption to the rest of the network. VSANs can also be configured separately and independently.

See also

References
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