Fiber-Channel, here we come!
Since majority of my posts earlier focused on iSCSI/IP SAN. And I've moved on and worked with a major Fiber-Channel player; if not the largest SAN switch provider. Since joining the company, I've been busy with major league customers like a major Stock Exchange in Asia (top-2) and a major Rail operator, a major Networking equipment provider (top-3), a major insurance company in China, and more.
The reason I write about Fiber-Channel is that now is the time to talk about the emerging technology in the Data Center. Cisco calls it Data Center 3.0, the other calls it Data Center Fabric. Right now, the standard body is forming, there will be a standard for Fiber-Channel over Ethernet. Why? It's simple. TCP/IP is lossy. Fiber-Channel is not. The list goes on and on.
Why companies need to change the equipment to embrace the new technology? It is harder to maintain two separate networks - one Ethernet network for communications, one Storage network for data. iSCSI/IP SAN camp will try to eliminate Fiber-Channel Storage networks asking companies to opt for one interface (Gigabit/10Gigabit) for both data (iSCSI) and communications (LAN or TCP/IP). This FC0E (Fiber Channel over Ethernet) is the latest punch from Fiber-Channel camp to sustain the longevity of Fiber Channel technology and push back IP SAN.
FCoE will give the servers the Ethernet utility while the servers still get the FC utility for disks. Once FCoE standard is out, we'll be able to see who's clearly the leader in the merge of two camps (IP/Fiber Channel).
So far, Ethernet defeated all other networking technologies and became the Internet. Will FCoE be able to replace the Internet? No, it won't. But FCoE may find the place in the hearts of large corporations while high-speed, high-throughput with quality of service (QoS) are more important than cost.
The new battle between technologies is just begun. Let's watch. Do not adopt FCoE until there is a clear sign that FCoE is going to win. Ethernet defeated ATM, etc before. It may be able to win again.
The reason I write about Fiber-Channel is that now is the time to talk about the emerging technology in the Data Center. Cisco calls it Data Center 3.0, the other calls it Data Center Fabric. Right now, the standard body is forming, there will be a standard for Fiber-Channel over Ethernet. Why? It's simple. TCP/IP is lossy. Fiber-Channel is not. The list goes on and on.
Why companies need to change the equipment to embrace the new technology? It is harder to maintain two separate networks - one Ethernet network for communications, one Storage network for data. iSCSI/IP SAN camp will try to eliminate Fiber-Channel Storage networks asking companies to opt for one interface (Gigabit/10Gigabit) for both data (iSCSI) and communications (LAN or TCP/IP). This FC0E (Fiber Channel over Ethernet) is the latest punch from Fiber-Channel camp to sustain the longevity of Fiber Channel technology and push back IP SAN.
FCoE will give the servers the Ethernet utility while the servers still get the FC utility for disks. Once FCoE standard is out, we'll be able to see who's clearly the leader in the merge of two camps (IP/Fiber Channel).
So far, Ethernet defeated all other networking technologies and became the Internet. Will FCoE be able to replace the Internet? No, it won't. But FCoE may find the place in the hearts of large corporations while high-speed, high-throughput with quality of service (QoS) are more important than cost.
The new battle between technologies is just begun. Let's watch. Do not adopt FCoE until there is a clear sign that FCoE is going to win. Ethernet defeated ATM, etc before. It may be able to win again.
posted by Peter Srivaree-Ratana at
1:14 AM
1 Comments
