Storage Networking Architectures Storage Transport Protocols
IP Storage - Native iSCSI
FC carries SCSI over Fibre Channel , iSCSI does the same over IP - iSCSI encapsulates SCSI commands and data over an IP network - A new breed of native iSCSI Storage devices are being developed - use standard Ethernet/IP Switches & Routers for interconnectivity
Ethernet/IP Switch/Router
iSCSI Hosts
iSCSI Storage
iSCSI SAN provides an end-to-end solution for host to storage connectivity. This can be a complete alternative to a Fibre Channel SAN, but as we will see next, it can also complement Fibre Channel solutions by providing connectivity to distant or less performance demanding hosts.
iSCSI is a lower cost alternative to Fibre Channel as it leverages lower cost components, builds on existing skills and can integrate with a companies current management systems.