Foundations of
Network Storage: Lesson 3 of 5.
In this lesson, we
will explore Fibre Channel and iSCSI. Topics include how to decide which is the
best option for your organization, the advantages and disadvantages of bot, and
what you need to know to support the technologies.
SAN options: Fibre channel and iSCSI
There are two methods of connecting storage devices to
networks, creating some confusion and nervousness in the Storage Area Network
(SAN) market. Here is a look at both.
Fibre Channel
Like Ethernet or ATM, Fibre
Channel is a networking standard that is designed to move data through specific
devices at specific speeds. Fibre Channel is used primarily for server
backbones and as a way of attaching a server to a storage device, such as a
RAID array or a tape backup device. In fact, Fibre Channel is the architecture
of choice for many storage area networks.
Many IT pros find that Fibre
Channel is an answer to their storage prayers. Since a company’s data grows
daily, each night the system is backing up a little bit more data than the
night before. Thus, the window for completing the backup tends to shrink a
little bit each year. The only way to back up more data in less time is to get
a faster storage device and a faster medium for transmitting the data from the
server to the storage device. In production networks, Fibre Channel products
have been able to accomplish a sustained transfer rate of 97 MB per second when
backing up large files. Companies that use Fibre Channel on database servers
have reported these servers can handle tens of thousands of I/Os per second due
to Fibre Channel technology.
iSCSI
Fibre channel has recently been
given a run for its money by iSCSI-based storage systems due to its low cost. iSCSI
storage networks are a complete technology—ranging from iSCSI drivers on your
servers to storage hardware based on iSCSI standards. Unlike NAS systems, iSCSI
SANs are perfect for database and Exchange applications due to the fact that
iSCSI transmits block level data rather than complete files. Block level
communication means that data is transferred between the host and the client in
chunks called blocks. Databases and Exchange servers depend on this type of
communication (as opposed to the file level communication used by most NAS
systems) in order to work properly.
For more on Fibre Channel and iSCSI, including free
downloads, see page two.
Fibre Channel resources
- Quick Guide:
Networked storage hardware and terminology
The chart will help you decipher storage terminology and find out what
hardware and software is needed to support iSCSI-based and fibre
channel-based SAN systems. - The skinny
on Fibre Channel
Learn more about this reliable and flexible architecture, and find out how
to overcome its compatibility issues. - Choosing
iSCSI over fibre channel: Deciding factors
Choosing the right storage solution for your organization starts with a
thorough review of your storage needs and current infrastructure. Learn
from the experience of Storage columnist and IT pro, Scott Lowe as he
takes you through the research and planning stage of a new implementation.
Look for future articles on vendor selection and installation. - Discussion:
Fibre channel vs. iSCSI
TechRepublic members discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both
types of technology. - Fibre channel
technology puts the pieces together
Fibre
channel’s strengths gives it a powerful user base, including the National
Football League and the National Basketball Association - Fibre
channel tutorial from InterOperability Library
This tutorial includes a discussion of fibre channel layers and topology.
iSCSI resources
- iSCSI vendor
selection process
An IT manager describes his team’s vendor selection process for their
iSCSI storage project. - iSCSI vendor
selection: The final contenders
An IT manager describes the vendor selection process for his
organization’s iSCSI storage project. See how his team compared two strong
contenders and what factors were the most important in the final decision. - Take
advantage of Microsoft’s free iSCSI Software Initiator package
Microsoft supports iSCSI SANs through its free iSCSI Software Initiator
package. Find out more about this free offering. - Serving
volumes with the EqualLogic PS200E iSCSI array
Scott Lowe shows you how to create volumes and attach them to your servers
for an iSCSI array connected to Windows servers.
White Papers
- Getting
Started With zSeries Fibre Channel Protocol
The purpose of this paper from IBM is two-fold: to provide information to
help you understand the concepts of zSeries Fibre Channel Protocol
support, and to show you how various SCSI devices can be configured to
build a zSeries FCP environment. - ETERNUS
SN200 Series Fibre Channel Switch
This white paper form Fujitsu is an overview of the ETERNUS SN200 Fibre
Switch’s capabilities. - iSCSI
Turns the Corner
ESG is aware of over 2,500 iSCSI SAN deployments and expect the number to
increase substantially in 2005. A number of market dynamics are converging
to that give us confidence that iSCSI has turned the corner including
rapid customer deployments, support from major storage and operating
system vendors, and education in the market place. - iSCSI
Storage Management With HP ProLiant Storage Server iSCSI Feature Pack and
HP ProLiant Storage Servers
combination of a familiar, easy-to-use web-based HP Storage Server
administrative UI with the simplicity of implementing and utilizing the HP
iSCSI Feature Pack and suite of storage services, delivers, for the first
time, a highly practical and cost-effective way for systems administrators
to consolidate block and file-sharing storage.
iSCSI vendors
Fibre channel vendors
Course list
- Lesson
1: SAN - Lesson
2: NAS - Lesson
3: Fibre channel/iSCSI - Lesson
4: Backup - Lesson
5: What’s next?
We want your feedback
Lesson 3 on Fibre channel/iSCSI was:
