i scsi storage revealed

Solutions today for tomorrows problems

http://www.iscsi-storage.com

iiSCSI Storage RevealedSCSI Storage Revealed

ByBy

Ray QuattrominiRay Quattromini

Fortuna Power Systems LtdFortuna Power Systems Ltd

February 2004February 2004

22Solutions today for tomorrows problems


The Companies AssetsThe Companies Assets

1.1.Staff - ChangeStaff - Change

2.2.Customers – ChangeCustomers – Change

3.3.Information stored on our servers – Remains Information stored on our servers – Remains and exponentially increases as you grow. and exponentially increases as you grow.

The information is key.The information is key.

In any company there are three things that keep a company running.

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Today’s SystemsToday’s Systems

Network switch

Users

Servers

Users access information stored on the servers

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Primary Server ComponentsPrimary Server Components

Disk storage

latigid

RAID controllerMemory

CPU Ethernet card

Motherboard

SCSI card

To our server we add our disk storage and our tape backup device. This server is then connected to the network.

Tape storage

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Adding StorageAdding Storage

Disk storage

latigid


CPU Ethernet card

Motherboard

SCSI card

Tape storage

Typically when a new server is installed more disk storage is bought that is actually needed.

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More Disk SpaceMore Disk Space

Disk storage

latigid


CPU Ethernet card

Motherboard

SCSI card

Tape storage

Adding more disk space requires the data to be firstly backed up, the server taken down or offline and the new disk drives added and the array rebuilt. The new disks add more storage than is actually required.

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Storage UtopiaStorage Utopia

In an ideal world we would have infinite In an ideal world we would have infinite amounts of storage, that is always amounts of storage, that is always available, easily manageable, affordable, available, easily manageable, affordable, flexible, reliable and scaleable.flexible, reliable and scaleable.

Storage Utopia exists today in two Storage Utopia exists today in two forms Fibre Channel and forms Fibre Channel and iiSCSISCSI

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What is a SAN?What is a SAN?

Definition 1: Definition 1: – a high-speed network dedicated to moving a high-speed network dedicated to moving

information between users and a pool of information between users and a pool of flexible storage devices flexible storage devices

– users no longer compete with server I/O for users no longer compete with server I/O for network bandwidth network bandwidth

Definition 2: Definition 2: – a high-speed network that establishes a direct a high-speed network that establishes a direct

connection between heterogeneous storage connection between heterogeneous storage devices and servers devices and servers

– a network behind a networka network behind a network



The Advent of Fibre ChannelThe Advent of Fibre Channel

SAN ConfigurationCom3Fibre Channel Switch

Fibre Channel

RAID

Bay Networks

Gigabit Ethernet Network

Fibre Channel Network

Fibre Channel

Tape

Gigabit Ethernet SwitchThe Fibre Channel network is a totally separate network to the existing Ethernet network. Requires Fibre channel cards in all servers, fibre channel switch and storage.

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Fibre Channel AdvantagesFibre Channel Advantages

• All storage is now managed centrallyAll storage is now managed centrally• The storage is served up to the The storage is served up to the

servers via fibre channelservers via fibre channel• Fibre channel SAN’s can run at Fibre channel SAN’s can run at

2Gbits per second2Gbits per second• Storage can be added on demand Storage can be added on demand

with no server downtimewith no server downtime

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Fibre Channel DisadvantagesFibre Channel Disadvantages

• Requires an in depth understanding of Requires an in depth understanding of LUN mapping, World Wide Names, LUN LUN mapping, World Wide Names, LUN masking, Storage Virtualisation, Storage masking, Storage Virtualisation, Storage management etc.management etc.

• All servers now require Fibre Channel All servers now require Fibre Channel cards, Fibre Channel Switches, Fibre cards, Fibre Channel Switches, Fibre Channel Storage Arrays, Separate Fibre Channel Storage Arrays, Separate Fibre Channel Network!Channel Network!

• Fibre Channels are expensive to install Fibre Channels are expensive to install maintain and manage.maintain and manage.

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iiSCSI StorageSCSI Storage

iiSCSI is a network storage protocol that SCSI is a network storage protocol that encompasses block level SCSI data in a TCP/IP encompasses block level SCSI data in a TCP/IP frame, thus allowing servers to access storage frame, thus allowing servers to access storage resources over an existing IP infrastructureresources over an existing IP infrastructure

SCSI and Ethernet technologies have been around for SCSI and Ethernet technologies have been around for more than 20 years and are fully understood.more than 20 years and are fully understood.

The The iiSCSI storage protocol is supported by 99% of the SCSI storage protocol is supported by 99% of the storage vendors and endorsed by Microsoft, Intel, IBM storage vendors and endorsed by Microsoft, Intel, IBM and Cisco.and Cisco.

iiSCSI is a cost effective way to build SAN’s at much SCSI is a cost effective way to build SAN’s at much lower cost point, giving users greater consolidation in lower cost point, giving users greater consolidation in their environment their environment

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iiSCSI NetworkSCSI Network

Network switch

Users

Servers

We use existing networking technologies. No separate networks. So savings over Fibre Channel can immediately be seen.

An iSCSI network can be installed immediately and storage added within minutes.

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iiSCSI QuestionsSCSI Questions

• Are Are iiSCSI products available now? SCSI products available now? YESYES

• Is the technology proven? Is the technology proven? YESYES

• Will Will iiSCSI saturate my existing network? SCSI saturate my existing network? Probably and if it does then simply install a Probably and if it does then simply install a separate Gigabit switch.separate Gigabit switch.

• Will Will iiSCSI supplant Fibre Channel? SCSI supplant Fibre Channel? Over time iSCSI will become the preferred Over time iSCSI will become the preferred technology choice for SAN’s.technology choice for SAN’s.

• Why are the major storage vendors not pushing Why are the major storage vendors not pushing iiSCSI? SCSI? The primary reason is, if they The primary reason is, if they push iSCSI they cannot supply expensive people to install the expensive fibre channel push iSCSI they cannot supply expensive people to install the expensive fibre channel switches, storage array, FC cards, software or management.switches, storage array, FC cards, software or management.

• How does How does iiSCSI work? SCSI work? iSCSI storage is seen on the network as an IP address. Your iSCSI storage is seen on the network as an IP address. Your servers remotely connect to this IP address and utilise the storage available.servers remotely connect to this IP address and utilise the storage available.

• Surely a NAS device offers me more storage? Surely a NAS device offers me more storage? A NAS device allows shared disk A NAS device allows shared disk storage to be accessed across a network by users. It does not allow block level access storage to be accessed across a network by users. It does not allow block level access to the data which many applications require to operate.to the data which many applications require to operate.

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iiSCSI Questions cont..SCSI Questions cont..

How can I realise the savings? By purchasing How can I realise the savings? By purchasing iiSCSI storage you can:SCSI storage you can:• Utilise your existing networkUtilise your existing network

• Traditional servers can be replaced by smaller cheaper low cost servers.Traditional servers can be replaced by smaller cheaper low cost servers.

• Adding more storage, no longer needs the servers to be taken down for Adding more storage, no longer needs the servers to be taken down for upgrades.upgrades.

• Servers run more efficiently as they have less to manage internally.Servers run more efficiently as they have less to manage internally.

• Use non-proprietary storage SATA, SCSI etc.Use non-proprietary storage SATA, SCSI etc.

• When replacing servers the data no longer needs to be backed up and When replacing servers the data no longer needs to be backed up and restored. Just snapshot the data and re-mount the storage to the new restored. Just snapshot the data and re-mount the storage to the new server.server.

• Reduced maintenance costsReduced maintenance costs

• Utilises all your disk storage and takes the guess work out of how much is Utilises all your disk storage and takes the guess work out of how much is requiredrequired

• Reduced management costs as additional disk space can be easily added Reduced management costs as additional disk space can be easily added to the serversto the servers

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Reduced Server CostsReduced Server Costs


CPU Ethernet card

Motherboard

SCSI card

iiSCSI reduces the cost of servers by:SCSI reduces the cost of servers by:• Removing the RAID controllerRemoving the RAID controller• Install a server only with a boot disk (not necessary with a TOE card)Install a server only with a boot disk (not necessary with a TOE card)• Removing the SCSI cardRemoving the SCSI card

X

X

This increases the reliability of the servers and allows for the This increases the reliability of the servers and allows for the storage to be added on demand.storage to be added on demand.

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iiSCSI ConnectivitySCSI Connectivity

CitrixOracleSQLFile & PrintExchange v5.5Logon BDC

Gigabit Switch

Backup server

latigid The tape library will directly connect to the iSCSI SAN.

Storage Group Storage Group

The iSCSI storage arrays will connect directly to your Gigabit switch.

iSCSI storage is given an IP address and this address is mapped to our servers.

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Gigabit Switch

iSCSI storage is mapped to the servers using an IQN name. Each name is unique to the servers.

IQN: 12345

iSCSI Storage

The iSCSI storage connects directly to the network.

IQN: 12345

The storage is mapped from our iSCSI storage to our servers on the network. The disks are shown as local block level storage disks, local to the servers. In the event of server failure. The IQN name can

be simply mapped to the new server in minutes. The NEW server can then continue to provide the files and applications, prior to the server failure.

New Server

IQN: 12345

Server FailureServer Failure



iiSCSI TOESCSI TOE

CitrixOracleSQLFile & PrintExchange v5.5Logon BDC

Gigabit Switch

Backup server

latigid The tape library will directly connect to the iSCSI SAN.


The iSCSI storage arrays will connect directly to your Gigabit switch.

An iSCSI TOE (TCP/IP Offload Engine) card offloads the Ethernet and SCSI packet processing from the CPU and carries out the function on the iSCSI card. Although this is not necessary for the execution of iSCSI to operate, it does allow servers to remotely boot from the iSCSI storage.

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iiSCSI IP ManagementSCSI IP Management

iiSCSI uses the IP protocol to operate. SCSI uses the IP protocol to operate. Because of this there are already hundreds of Because of this there are already hundreds of network management tools available for network management tools available for configuring VLAN’s, switches, reporting, configuring VLAN’s, switches, reporting, VPN’s etc.VPN’s etc.



iiSCSI Storage ManagementSCSI Storage Management

The SAN Melody server allocates the disk storage for the servers and allocates to each of the servers 2TB’s of disk space even though the physical disk has 1TB. Our disk storage is now virtualised.

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Gigabit Switch


The iSCSI storage will connect directly to your Gigabit switch and be managed by the SAN Melody Server.

CitrixOracleSQLFile & PrintExchange v5.5Logon BDCBackup server

SAN Melody server



Remote connectivityRemote connectivity

City HQ

Remote offices

Internet

Remote offices

HQ

Factory

Warehouse

DR site

Internet

Remote offices

Remote offices

Data Replication between sites

Data from the remote sites can be backed up to the HQ and then replicated to the DR location.

Tape Tape

Examples of how iSCSI can connect to remote sites.



Remote connectivity cont..Remote connectivity cont..

City HQ

Remote offices or shops

Internet

Direct connection

ComputerComputerComputerComputerComputer

The stores have no local disk drives. The disk storage is served up remotely by iSCSI and is seen virtually by the local store computers.

iSCSI Storage



SAN MelodySAN Melody

SAN Melody allows us to pool all of our physical disk storage and control how this disk space is allocated to each of the servers. These servers or clients can be Windows XP, Windows 2000 Workstation or Server, Windows 2003 server, Novell, Linux, UNIX, MAC etc. The only proviso is that they have iSCSI support natively or the iSCSI TOE card has support.

The disk storage that we pool and virtualise can be from any manufacture. We can use JBOD, RAID Arrays, NAS, Fibre Channel storage, re-use older disk arrays or drives.

HP

EMC

IBM

JBOD

SAN Melody

Gigabit switch

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SAN Melody High AvailabilitySAN Melody High Availability

Gigabit Switches

All of the server storage is seen as one huge Storage Pool.

SAN Melody SAN Melody

RAID Array 1 RAID Array 2

Applications can be mirrored between servers for HA functionality. They do not have to be the same type of servers to run the applications

CitrixOracleSQL

File & PrintExchangeLogon BDCBackup server

SQL

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SAN Melody High Availability with SAN Melody High Availability with Remote Mirror and SnapshotRemote Mirror and Snapshot

RAID Array 1 RAID Array 2 RAID Array 3

WAN

Data can be Snapshot and mirrored between local and remote sites for DR or secure site purposes.

SAN Melody

Citrix

Oracle

SQL

File & PrintExchangeLogon BDCBackup serverSAN Melody

This diagram represents a typical configuration for High Availability (HA) storage. Multiple iSCSI RAID arrays can be used along with multiple SAN Melody servers, Gigabit switches and multi-path iSCSI cards in each server.High-Availability is achieved through synchronous mirroring between adjacent storage servers packaged as a pair. Both members actively process I/Os. Each server may be configured to handle primary paths for some of the volumes while its companion takes over with the mirrored images in case of failure. Host must be adequately configured with qualified multi-path drivers to take advantage of this feature. Fibre Channel may be used as the inter-server link. Each server in the high-availability pair must be separately licensed with this option.

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Storage – The New RulesStorage – The New Rules

Advantage 1:

Completely flexible blueprint designed without R&D to produce own product:

Any PC/Server building block:

Any storage: SCSI, FC, SATA (RAID)

Any network: iSCSI, FC, Infiniband

Advantage 2:

Reduce the h/w price/performance curve utilising OEM PC/Servers

Leverage MS familiarity and certification

Advantage 3:

Build better product than competitor at lower cost with high end-user ROI and TCO.

Internal Disks drives

or Disk Shelves

Wintel PC/Servers

Portable SoftwareProductivity Services

Centralized security and provisioning

Disaster Recovery Mirroring Point in Time

Storage Snapshots Compliant with MS

storage standards High-Speed Caching Virtualization Storage Network

Management Fully interoperable

product range Auto-Provisioning

and Resource Management

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iiSCSI Major AdvantagesSCSI Major Advantages

-No dedicated specialised networks as in Fibre ChannelNo dedicated specialised networks as in Fibre Channel

-Buy servers with no RAID controllers or DiskBuy servers with no RAID controllers or Disk

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

-Every single server can be given 2000GB's of virtual disk space, even though Every single server can be given 2000GB's of virtual disk space, even though that amount of disk space is not availablethat amount of disk space is not available

-Storage can now be non-proprietary and you can use JBOD's (Just Bunch of Storage can now be non-proprietary and you can use JBOD's (Just Bunch of Disks)Disks)

-Should a server fail, then the storage can be mounted on another server and Should a server fail, then the storage can be mounted on another server and simply/instantly restoredsimply/instantly restored

-Reduces cost by buying smaller more compact serversReduces cost by buying smaller more compact servers

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

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iiSCSI Major Advantages cont..SCSI Major Advantages cont..

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

-Microsoft Exchange & SQL 2003 automatically create their own snap Microsoft Exchange & SQL 2003 automatically create their own snap shots and automatically call for more disk space. All this is done shots and automatically call for more disk space. All this is done automaticallyautomatically

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

- Cut down on Backup Software Licensing costs as all you need to do Cut down on Backup Software Licensing costs as all you need to do is Snapshot or Mirror the information to another server and backup is Snapshot or Mirror the information to another server and backup just one server!just one server!

- No massive storage investment neededNo massive storage investment needed

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iiSCSI is a “disruptive” Technology!SCSI is a “disruptive” Technology!

In this instance to define “disruptive” is to define “benefit”

iSCSI Technology shifts how storage technology is now to be deployed in that the previous dominant way to deploy storage technology was through Fibre Channel [FC] Technology.

However, a FC Technology based Network ties the Client into one of a number of “single source” suppliers that would always advise [promote] that all the FC components should be “single sourced” from them.

This adds significantly to the Total Cost of Ownership [TCO] from the initial installation, through to on-going support and the inevitable upgrade.

iSCSI Technology on the other hand is an established architecture that comprises of :-•Operating System Driver•iSCSI Storage Management•iSCSI Storage Server•Any Storage Media [Hard Disk, Magnetic Tape, Optical, etc.]

The components of iSCSI do not have to be “single sourced”, they can be components that you have currently installed or may wish to purchase from your preferred supplier.



iiSCSI SummarySCSI Summary

iiSCSI is an OPEN architecture that enables an SCSI is an OPEN architecture that enables an optimised and cost effective TCO to be optimised and cost effective TCO to be achieved and your TCO is protected for the achieved and your TCO is protected for the future.future.

Whereas Whereas Fibre Channel is a TIED architecture that can Fibre Channel is a TIED architecture that can only see an increase in TCO in the future.only see an increase in TCO in the future.



How can Fortuna help?How can Fortuna help?

• On site demonstrations

• iSCSI software & hardware

• iSCSI installation

• Consultancy

• Maintenance

• Training

We can provide:We can provide:

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Contacting usContacting us

• Tel: 01256 782030

• Fax: 01256 783174

• E-mail: [email protected]

• Web: http://www.iscsi-storage.com

To contact us and find out more about To contact us and find out more about iiSCSI please SCSI please use the following details.use the following details.

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