About Iscsi - Cisco DS-C9216I-K9 Configuration Manual

Chapter 24 Configuring IP Storage

About iSCSI

The IPS module provides transparent SCSI routing by default. IP hosts using iSCSI protocol can
transparently access targets on the Fibre Channel network. provides an example of a typical
configuration of iSCSI hosts with access to a Fibre Channel SAN.
Figure 24-19
IP host A
iscsi
iscsi
IP host B
The IPS module enables you to create virtual iSCSI targets and maps them to physical Fibre Channel
targets available in the Fibre Channel SAN. They present the Fibre Channel targets to IP hosts as if the
physical targets were attached to the IP network.
Figure 24-20
IP Host A
iscsi
iscsi
IP Host B
In conjunction with presenting Fibre Channel targets to iSCSI hosts, the IPS module presents each iSCSI
host as a Fibre Channel host (in transparent mode), i.e. Host Bus Adaptor (HBA) to the Fibre Channel
storage device. The storage device responds to each IP host as if it were a Fibre Channel host connected
to the Fibre Channel network.
OL-7753-01
Typical IP to Fibre Channel SAN Configuration
Switch 1
IP
Network
Storage array 1
T-1
iSCSI View
IP
Network
Cisco MDS 9000 Fabric Manager Switch Configuration Guide
Storage array 2
T-3
Disk subsystem
T-2
Switch 1
Storage array 1
T-1
Virtual iSCSI
Disc subsystem
targets
T-2
Storage array 2
T-3
Configuring iSCSI
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