VMware Certified Professional - Data Center Virtualization (VCP-DCV) Practice Exam

In a vSphere environment, what are two main use cases for Fibre Channel Zoning?

1. Increases the number of targets presented to an ESXi host.

2. Controls and isolates paths in a fabric.

3. Can be used to separate different environments.

4. Controls paths to an NFS share.

The correct answer is: Controls and isolates paths in a fabric.

Fibre Channel zoning is an essential feature in storage area networks (SANs) that serves two main purposes related to path control and isolation within the fabric. By using zoning, administrators can define which devices can communicate with each other. This method enhances security by restricting access and minimizes the risk of data corruption or unintentional disruptions by ensuring that only designated devices (such as specific servers and storage devices) can interact within the SAN. The ability to control and isolate paths contributes significantly to the efficient management of storage resources. This means that certain devices can be isolated from others to prevent the interference that could arise if all devices were able to see and access each other. This isolation is crucial in larger environments where different applications may have distinct performance requirements or security considerations. The other options do not accurately describe the primary functions of zoning. While separating different environments might be part of a broader security strategy, it does not summarize the main functions of zoning. Similarly, zoning does not directly affect the number of targets presented to an ESXi host or control paths to an NFS share, as zoning is specific to Fibre Channel networks and storage interactions, rather than network file systems like NFS.