Hard zoning of virtual local area networks in a fibre channel fabric

A switch comprising:

• a plurality of ports, each port adapted to be coupled to a device by a serial connection;
• a storage medium for storing a database including at least two types of zones present in a fabric, a first type zone specifying devices by Fibre Channel parameters and a second type zone specifying devices by an Ethernet parameter and Fibre Channel parameters, where devices can be coupled to the fabric using either Fibre Channel or Ethernet connections, each zone including at least one device as a member of the zone;
• and
• a logic device coupled to the plurality of ports and to the storage medium, for, responsive to the zones accessed from the database, restricting communications for devices coupled to the plurality of ports, the logic device including:
• a comparison circuit to evaluate fields in a frame, the fields including a source device address and a destination device address, and programmed to provide an indication that the source device and the destination device can communicate only if the source and destination devices are members of a common first type zone and if both devices are coupled to the fabric using an Ethernet connection, that both devices are members of a common second type zone.

A network comprising:

• a plurality of external devices;
• and
• a fabric coupling the plurality of external devices, wherein the fabric includes:
• a plurality of ports for coupling to the plurality of external devices;
• a storage medium for storing a database including at least two types of zones, a first type zone specifying devices by Fibre Channel parameters and a second type zone specifying devices by an Ethernet parameter and Fibre Channel parameters;
• and
• a logic device coupled to the plurality of ports and to the storage medium, for, responsive to the zones accessed from the database, restricting communications for external devices coupled to the plurality of ports, the logic device including:
• a comparison circuit to evaluate fields in a frame, the fields including a source external device address and a destination external device address, and programmed to provide an indication that the source external device and the destination external device can communicate only if the source and destination external devices are members of a common first type zone and if both external devices are coupled to the fabric using an Ethernet connection, that both external devices are members of a common second type zone.