LUN masking

LUN masking

LUN masking is a further constraint added to LUN zoning to ensure that only devices authorized to access a specific server can access the corresponding port.

A logical unit number (LUN) is a unique identifier that designates individual hard diskdevices or grouped devices for address by a protocol associated with a SCSI, iSCSI, Fibre Channel (FC) or similar interface.  LUNs are central to the management of block storagearrays shared over a storage area network (SAN).

LUN masking subdivides access to a given port. Then, even if several LUNs are accessed through the same port, the server masks can be set to limit each server's access to the appropriate LUNs. LUN masking is typically conducted at the host bus adapter (HBA) or switch level.