Iscsi And Fibre Channel; Iscsi Bridge To Fibre Channel; Iscsi Concepts; Initiator And Target Devices - HP StorageWorks 4000/6000/8000 - Enterprise Virtual Arrays Reference Manual

iSCSI and Fibre Channel

There are many factors to consider in choosing iSCSI or Fibre Channel, including:
Lower deployment costs for iSCSI compared to Fibre Channel
Widespread knowledge of IP technology for iSCSI
Less expensive IP components
iSCSI support for many server models
Open architecture design with iSCSI
iSCSI performance well matched to small and mid-range storage applications

iSCSI bridge to Fibre Channel

Many iSCSI bridges are compatible with HP-supported Fibre Channel switches. This bridging technology
routes Fibre Channel storage to all servers in an IP fabric.
IP hosts use iSCSI to access Fibre Channel storage systems. The storage systems appear as
direct-attached storage to the hosts.
Key benefits of bridging include:
Consolidating Fibre Channel storage to both Fibre Channel and IP hosts
Extending Fibre Channel distance limitations through access to IP networks
The HP-supported iSCSI to Fibre Channel bridge products are as follows:
B-series iSCSI Director Blade
B-series MP Router
C-series IP Storage Services Modules
C-series 14/2 Multiprotocol Services Module
C-series 18/4 Multiprotocol Module
EVA iSCSI Connectivity Option
EVA4400 iSCSI Connectivity Option
MPX200 Multifunction Router iSCSI
SR2122-2 IP Storage Router

iSCSI concepts

This section describes key iSCSI concepts:
Initiator and target
iSCSI naming, page 357
Discovery
Software and hardware iSCSI

Initiator and target devices

An iSCSI router manages access between iSCSI targets and iSCSI initiators as follows:
iSCSI target (logical target)—An end-node device that is typically a storage system, storage router,
or bridge. A storage system with iSCSI support is called native iSCSI storage.
356 iSCSI storage
devices, page 356
mechanisms, page 357
initiators, page 359