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What is iSCSI, the benefits of iSCSI ...
What is iSCSI, the benefits of iSCSI Protocol
iSCSI - the most cost effective solutionThe Internet Small Computer System Interface popularly called, iSCSI, has become one of the most popular Storage Area Network (SAN) protocols due to its simplified management and integration based on Internet protocol (IP). iSCSI provides all the benefits of block-based storage with TCP/IP compatibility and allows consolidation of storage into data center storage arrays while providing hosts with the illusion of locally-attached disks.
iSCSI resolves the issues of distance, bandwidth, and standardization and does this at a much lower cost. The iSCSI protocol maps SCSI commands over a TCP/IP network and utilizes relatively inexpensive Gigabit Ethernet (GigE) network components to send blocks of data over the IP network. As a result, iSCSI provides IT staffs an alternative to existing solutions, such as Fibre Channel SAN's, while combining the familiarity, bandwidth and low cost of Ethernet with the efficient, fast, block-based data transfer performance of a SAN.
Industry Support
Supported by software and hardware heavyweights such as Microsoft, IBM, Cisco and Intel, and with the ratified standards by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), iSCSI is poised to bring SAN technology to the next generation of simplicity, affordability and manageability.
By implementing iSCSI organizations now have the option to leverage existing network infrastructure investments while reaping the benefits of future proliferation of IP based network storage.
Benefits of iSCSI:
- Increased storage utilization and manageability adds up to reducing the total cost of operation.
- It lowers initial and hardware acquisition costs as it utilizes same standardized, inexpensive Ethernet equipment as a local area network (LAN).
- No cost of training IT staff as it uses familiar TCP/IP technology and doesn't require expert personnel to install, configure, and manage the networks unlike Fibre Channel.
- IP is a universal and non-proprietary technology used globally for the past 30 years. Hence, various network storage equipments from different vendors can work together seamlessly.
- As an IP-based protocol, iSCSI takes advantage of the interoperability benefits of TCP/IP and Ethernet.
- With standardization, iSCSI-compliant products, iSCSI SAN environments can be easily deployed by leveraging existing network hardware and other components.
- iSCSI SAN offers much simpler network storage solutions.
- Utilizing Gigbit Ethernet network components, organizations can significantly simplify their network storage environments
