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Traditional SAN is based on Fiber Channel Framework for which IP-SAN is an alternative. IP-SAN is usually over Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) and it represents a new generation of networked storage. It is a combination of the best attributes of Fiber-Channel SANs (FC-SAN) as well as NAS. These include functionality and scalability, ease-of-deployment and ease-of-use. IP-SAN provides virtually all the competence of Fiber-Channel SAN and NAS devices combined at a lower cost.
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One Over Another |
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FC SAN |
IP-SAN |
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Works on Fibre Channel link and uses FCP |
Works over TCP/IP and uses iSCSI over Gigabit Ethernet |
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Expensive implementation, deployment, and maintenance |
Much lower implementation, deployment, and maintenance costs than FC SANs |
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Operates on a dedicated FC network |
Can work on internal LAN, but it is recommended that dedicated LAN is deployed. |
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It is a proprietary technology and interoperability issues might arise |
Its proprietary nature might be limited only to controller or advanced tool sets. It has very few interoperability issues |
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Can operate at throughputs of up to 10 Gbps |
Can operate at a maximum throughput of less than 1 Gbps |
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Ideal for large enterprises and applications that require high performance |
Ideal for SMBs and for low-cost backup or DR set-ups |
IP-SANs are highly scalable and easily manageable. It can run on the existing GbE network infrastructures, but for security and performance purposes, it is advisable to implement it as a separate network. IP-SAN offers RAID striping and mirroring, dynamic storage allocation, snap-shots, and replication, which enable enterprises to cut costs and increase usefulness.
IP-SAN vs FC SAN
The issues related to Fiber Channel are expense, complexity, and interoperability, which are absent in IP storage. IP can take advantage of common network, hardware and technologies, which makes IP-SAN less complicated to deploy than Fiber Channel. As its name suggests, IP SAN is built on top of IP, making deployment relatively easy and quick.
IP-SAN's iSCSI (Internet SCSI) network is a complete alternative solution to Fiber Channel. There are other alternatives, which offer hybrid solutions and can be used to either extend the existing Fiber Channel frameworks or to migrate from them to an IP storage network. These are such as iFCP (Internet Fiber Channel Protocol) and FCIP (Fiber Channel over IP). IP-SANs present a good option for SMBs on the storage centralization front, ie when they want to consolidate their storage from distributed DAS systems.
Combination of six cost-effective and high performance technologies, essentially make the IP-SANs. These are iSCSI, GbE switches, Serial ATA (SATA) hard disk arrays, Linux or similar open source OS kernel, virtual LANs (VLAN), and Cat 6 cables.
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Advantages of IP-SAN |
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Latest development in the IP-SAN technology is 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10 GbE). The present distance restraint in 10 GbE will not limit its usage in IP SANs since their cabling does not exceed this. IP networking already boasts a large R&D profile, with an established roadmap that has 10Gbps emerging now, on the way to 40Gbps.
The IP-SAN storage solutions are convenient and cost affective for an enterprise. It has the capability of switching protocols and share files across multiple application environments-without storage infrastructure changes. This solution also facilitates simple, rapid backup, and restoration of damaged or accidentally deleted files and databases.
Importance of storage is growing as an organization's data requirements continued to grow. IP-SAN is a technology, which will enable them to keep up with that growth.
Source : Voice&Data
Have you used IP SAN? What are the advantages or disadvantaged you have faced. We'd love to know.