Cisco MDS 9216 Configuration Manual page 19

Chapter 1 SVC Product Overview
Cisco MDS 9000 CSM
•
The CSM integrates two high performance processing nodes which, when combined with the Cisco
MDS 9000 SAN-OS software, delivers network hosted virtualization and replication services. Each
CSM includes 8 GB of local cache used to hold recently accessed data blocks. On-board dual
redundant batteries and hard disk drives protect cached data in the event of a power failure. To
further ensure data availability and integrity, nodes are paired with nodes on other CSMs in high
availability clusters.
Distributed cache-based virtualization
•
The Cisco MDS 9000 CSM virtualization architecture overcomes the inherent bottlenecks
associated with other virtualization architectures. Virtualization performance can be easily scaled to
the level required by adding CSMs. Application I/O response time is improved over other
virtualization architectures through the use of local caching of disk blocks. Because Cisco MDS
9000 virtualization is switch-based, any host can access any virtual volume from anywhere in the
fabric, independent of the host's attachment point in the SAN. In addition to virtualization and
replication services, the Cisco MDS 9000 CSM leverages all of the advanced SAN-OS features
available on the Cisco MDS 9000 platform, simplifying security, diagnostics and management.
• Fabric-based virtualization using intelligent networking services
Cisco MDS 9000 fabric-based virtualization provides a level of integration with intelligent SAN
services unavailable to host or virtualization appliance-based solutions. The Cisco MDS 9000
platform with integrated CSM delivers the intelligence and advanced features required to make
multilayer intelligent storage area networks a reality including hardware-enabled innovations
designed to dramatically improve scalability, availability, security, and manageability of storage
networks, resulting in increased utility and lower total cost of ownership (TCO).
Virtual SAN
•
Virtual SANs (VSANs) allow more efficient SAN utilization by creating hardware-based isolated
environments within a single SAN fabric. Each VSAN maintains its own fabric services for added
scalability and resilience. Zoning within a SAN allows additional configuration flexibility. VSANs
allow the cost of SAN infrastructure to be shared among more users, while assuring absolute
segregation and security of traffic and retaining independent control of configuration on a
VSAN-by-VSAN basis. VSANs provide a protective barrier between application hosts and physical
storage, enhancing data integrity in a virtualized storage environment.
Comprehensive security
•
The Cisco CSM and the SAN-OS software integrate seamlessly to apply extensive security measures
at all possible points of attack. SSH, RADIUS, SNMPv3, and role-based access control are used to
block unauthorized access. To guard against compromising control traffic, Fibre Channel Security
Protocol (FC-SP) provides confidentiality, data origin authentication, and connectionless integrity
across the fabric. Data plane traffic is secured with VSANs, guaranteeing segregation of traffic
across shared fabrics, and with zoning to satisfy traffic segregation requirements within a VSAN.
Hardware-based ACLs provide further granularity for advanced security options.
• High availability
Like all other Cisco MDS 9000 Family modules, the CSM is hot-swappable and fully integrates into
the Cisco MDS 9000 high availability architecture. The Cisco MDS 9000 SAN-OS software
architecture offers an unparalleled level of availability including automatic restart of failed
supervisor processes and fabric level availability via Cisco PortChannel capability which allows 16
physical links to be aggregated into one logical interface. The logical interface remains active in the
event of a port, ASIC, or module failure, and can sustain the failure of any physical link without
causing a reset. Additionally, Fabric Shortest Path First (FSPF) multipathing provides the
78-16119-01, Cisco MDS SAN-OS Release 1.3
Cisco MDS 9000 Family SAN Volume Controller Configuration Guide
SVC Features
1-3