– Identifies each device in a specified zone by physical port
– Switch routing table (in the ASIC) enforces zoning
– Can make administration more difficult because zones do not “follow” devices
When port zoning is used: Physical switch ports are added to zones. The switch routing table (in the ASIC) enforces zoning. The ASIC blocks unauthorized communications by disabling the route between ports that are not authorized to communicate. Plugging an unauthorized device into a port assigned to Zone X will allow that device to communicate with other devices in Zone X. Moving an authorized device to a different physical port that does not belong to the zone requires that the administrator update the zone configuration.