What is LUN_Z or LUNz?

Lets discuss about LUNz/LUN_Z in Operating System specially in CLARiiON environment. We

know that what is LUN?? LUN is nothing but logical slice of disc which stands for Logical Unit
Number. This terminology comes with SCSI-3 group, if you want to know more just visit
www.t10.org and www.t11.org

A SCSI-3 (SCC-2) term defined as "the logical unit number that an application client uses to
communicate with, configure and determine information about an SCSI storage array and the
logical units attached to it. The LUN_Z value shall be zero." In the CLARiiON context, LUNz
refers to a fake logical unit zero presented to the host to provide a path for host software to send
configuration commands to the array when no physical logical unit zero is available to the host.
When Access Logix is used on a CLARiiON array, an agent runs on the host and communicates
with the storage system through either LUNz or a storage device. On a CLARiiON array, the LUNZ
device is replaced when a valid LUN is assigned to the HLU LUN by the Storage Group. The agent
then communicates through the storage device. The user will continue, however, to see DGC LUNz
in the Device Manager.
LUNz has been implemented on CLARiiON arrays to make arrays visible to the host OS and
PowerPath when no LUNs are bound on that array. When using a direct connect configuration, and
there is no Navisphere Management station to talk directly to the array over IP, the LUNZ can be
used as a pathway for Navisphere CLI to send Bind commands to the array.
LUNz also makes arrays visible to the host OS and PowerPath when the host’s initiators have not
yet ‘logged in to the Storage Group created for the host. Without LUNz, there would be no device
on the host for Navisphere Agent to push the initiator record through to the array. This is mandatory
for the host to log in to the Storage Group. Once this initiator push is done, the host will be
displayed as an available host to add to the Storage Group in Navisphere Manager (Navisphere
Express).
LUNz should disappear once a LUN zero is bound, or when Storage Group access has been
attained.To turn on the LUNz behavior on CLARiiON arrays, you must configure the
arraycommpath.