BANGALORE, INDIA: No doubt, fibre channel (FC) has been the show stopper for over 15 years when it comes to data centre network storage protocols, and Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) had to take a backseat for many reasons despite the hype it created during its launch in 2003.

However, the latter which has been always referred to as, "low-end, cheap and a poor performer", is today slowly making inroads into the space of FC, more so into FCP's (Fibre Channel Protocol, an interface protocol of SCSI on the Fibre Channel).

Also Read: Convergence of networking and storage

iSCSI, a storage networking standard based on TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet protocol) used to carry SCSI data over IP networks, is strengthening itself plugging loopholes for which it has been derided all these years.

Let's try and tackle the most often quoted association that iSCSI had since its inception days, i.e 'It's for the SMB types' and that not so important data should be carried over it.

Says K Raghavan, principal technical consultant, Cisco, "There have always been a tendency to use iSCSI in light-weight connectivity scenarios in data centres. iSCSI is a good fit for small networks/organizations and test/proof of concept environments. Any serious enterprise deployment should be looking at something like FCoE (Fibre Channel over Ethernet), if they are looking at converging storage and data networks."

Agrees Harmeet S. Malhotra, Enterprise Solutions Marketing Director- Asia Pacific & Japan, Storage & Unified Fabric Solutions Marketing, Dell. However, he clarifies that it is the cheap low-end versions of iSCSI that have a major market in SMB.

"Whereas, today high performance iSCSI products meant for mid-range segments are available, although from very few vendors, which even large corporates can look at," Malhotra adds.

If ever so, large enterprises, who have been supporting fibre channel all these years, will take some more time before considering to move on to iSCSI protocol, because it would mean doing away with their fibre channel network investment, worth thousands of crores of rupees.

So, if at all there is a change, it will be a slow and gradual one, says Harmeet. More so because, "What we see is that they (FS products) happen to have a longer sales cycle. So enterprises have to do a good debate between what they already have and what is coming up," adds Harmeet.