Switch zoning has limitations for system and EMC CLARiiON systems.
The EMC CLARiiON FC4500 and CX200 systems limit the number of initiator HBAs to allow only 15 connections for each storage system port. This limit is less than the 16 initiator ports that are required to connect to an 8-node clustered system (system) in a dual fabric configuration. To use EMC CLARiiON FC4500 and CX200 systems with an 8-node system, you must zone the system to use one system port for each node in each fabric. This zoning reduces the initiator HBA count to eight.
EMC CLARiiON FC4700 and CX400 systems provide four target ports and allow 64 connections. Using a single SAN fabric, a 4-node system requires 64 connections (4 × 4 × 4), which is equal to the number of connections that are allowed. If split support with other hosts is required, this requirement can cause issues. You can reduce either the number of initiator ports or target ports so that only 32 of the available 64 connections are used.
EMC CLARiiON CX600 systems provide eight target ports and allow 128 connections. A 4-node system uses all 128 connections (4 × 4 × 8). An 8-node system exceeds the connection limit and no reduction methods can be used.