iSCSI explained

iSCSI provides logical volumes using iSCSI to servers or desktop PC's.

iSCSI Storage will revolutionise the way data is moved, created and backed up. The shift towards iSCSI storage products is already starting to happend. iSCSI or IP storage utilises the benefits of two major connectivity technologies that have each been around for more than 20 years SCSI and TCP/IP by combining the two together to create the iSCSI or IP storage standard.

Building an iSCSI SAN (Storage Area Network) is no longer limited to those who can manage the complexities and cost of Fibre Channel technology. With the introduction of the iSCSI protocol, any enterprise that uses standard Ethernet technology can now build iSCSI SANs and reap their benefits. Defined and supported by industry leading storage and networking companies, this new networking protocol that enables low latency SCSI "blocks" to be transported via Ethernet and TCP/IP.

iSCSI is a new networking - data storage protocol that combines SCSI data blocks with Ethernet IP packets. SCSI commands are encoded in to Ethernet packets and then sent over Ethernet networks. When they reach their destination these packets are separated out into Ethernet and SCSI commands and the data is then sent to the relevant device.

As iSCSI uses existing Ethernet switches, cables, routers the deployment costs are much lower than if you were to design a Fibre Channel SAN. Operating systems see iSCSI-connected devices as SCSI devices and are unaware that the SCSI device connected to the network resides across the room or across town.

iSCSI SAN

An iSCSI SAN will cost considerably less the reasons for this are:

 No new investment in network architectures as an existing Gigabit network will suffice

 No new software as the device on an iSCSI network look like SCSI devices

 iSCSI is fully supported by Microsoft, Cisco etc..

 Create a pool of centralised storage using iSCSI and install on each of the servers the Microsoft iSCSI drivers, we then using disk manager are able to mount storage from our pool to our servers which can be Windows, Linux, UNIX, MAC or Novell based. These operating systems must support iSCSI and have an iSCSI initiator.

 The centralised storage server can be Mirrored/RAIDED or Snapshot. If you put iSCSI TOE controllers in each of your servers, you can then boot from the centralised storage.

The major advantages are:

 No dedicated specialised networks as in Fibre Channel

 Buy servers with no RAID controllers or Disk

 As the storage is IP based you can serve up information across Wide Area Links or the Internet

 Should a server fail, then the storage can be mounted on another server instantly

 Reduces cost by buying smaller more compact servers

 Backups are reduced because you can make snapshots and back them up during the day

 Your servers only use the disk that they need! There is no need to guess how much you will need

 One person can administer and control all you storage requirements from a single system and allocate disk on demand

 Cut down on Backup Software Licensing costs as all you need to do is Snapshot or Mirror the information to another server and backup just one server!
 We guarantee you will save money in terms of storage management costs, server pricing and maintenance.