Storage Networking Strategic DecisionMaking Randy Kerns Evaluator Group

Storage Networking Strategic Decision-Making Randy Kerns Evaluator Group, Inc. www. evaluatorgroup. com

Agenda l Recap – What you’ve heard • Storage Networking • Definition, what problem is being solved • Differing Solutions • SAN – FC, IP (i. SCSI, i. FCP, FCIP) • NAS l Framework For Decision-Making • Evaluation • Requirements based on market segment • Where proposed solutions best fit • Considerations for your environment • Roadmap for choosing storage networking solution • Methodology to approach problem

Storage Networking l Definition – from SNIA • The practice of creating, installing, administering, or using networks whose primary purpose is the transfer of data between computer systems and storage elements and among storage elements. l What problems are being solved • Near-term: consolidation, backup • Wider-view: storage growth

Different Solutions l Storage Area Networks • Fibre channel based • Fabric switched network for SANs – High bandwidth – 1, 2 Gb/s now, 10 Gb/s mid 2002 – Low latency – hardware intensive implementation – Block I/O – SCSI as ULP for fibre channel • Interoperability – Solved with significant investment from vendors – Independent lab and certification underway – Maturing – significant deployment • Major vendors – Products – Commitment for long term • Management and the abstraction of storage

Different Solutions l Storage Area Networks • IP based • Over Ethernet with TCPIP encapsulation for most • Various methods – proposals for standards – Block I/O via encapsulation » i. SCSI – Tunneling » i. FCP » FCIP • Targeting OLTP at higher transaction rate than NAS

Different Solutions l Storage Area Networks • IP based – i. SCSI - uses SCSI commands over IP • Target is to provide block I/O using Ethernet infrastructure • No mechanism in Ethernet/IP to allow for command-response structure of SCSI • SCSI is block oriented storage interface • Uses a software driver to control SCSI protocol • Ethernet / IP has network characteristics • No flow control – drops packets on congestion • Packet size is limited – get smaller as contention increases • i. SCSI attempts to work within these constraints • • i. SCSI standard proposes to encapsulate SCSI on TCP Many vendors – some haven’t been in storage before

Different Solutions l Storage Area Networks • IP based – i. FCP, internet Fibre Channel Protocol • • • Transfers FCP across IP networks Gateways used to encapsulate FCP on IP Useful for extended distances for FC connections Translates FC frame addresses to new local IP address – ‘Transparent’ view of storage devices – Connects FC devices to TCP/IP backbone IP based – FCIP, Fibre Channel Internet Protocol • Tunneling FCP across IP • Gateways/switches act as E-port extenders • Useful for SAN to SAN linkage over extended distances • Does not change FC address of frames between SANs – Makes a large SAN with single address space

Different Solutions l Storage Area Networks • Infini. Band • Developing technology to replace PCI in servers • Will extend from server to fabric – Connect storage, networks, etc. – Switch / routers will be initial connect • Question is: when will native Infini. Band devices appear? • Infrastructure change – will happen – Probably 5 years to reach into storage

Different Solutions l Network Attached Storage • NAS Appliances • Remote file serving • Clustering option • Starting to see abstraction within same vendor solutions

Different Solutions l Network Attached Storage • DAFS • VI based • Remote DMA • File-based access • Targeting OLTP at higher transaction rate than NAS • YE 2001 availability

Different Solutions l Convergence – blurring of the lines • Gateway – NAS “head” • Connect to SAN storage • Benefits of scaling storage, administration

Different Solutions l Convergence – blurring of the lines • Metadata server solutions • NAS control for access • SAN block I/O for data to achieve high performance

Different Solutions l Convergence – blurring of the lines • Distributed SAN file systems • SAN data can be local file system Single File System Common file system on shared storage Highly available Application transparent Host A Host B Host C Cluster Sfw Cluster File System Cluster Vol SAN

Framework for Decision making l Evaluation • Understand your requirements • Business • Technical • Understand the vendor offerings • Targeted at a specific market segment • Characteristics may not fit your requirements • Need to have long-term view

Markets

Requirements by Segment l Enterprise Data. Center • • Reliability – 100% availability of data Guaranteed performance – response time, data rate Scalability – capacity and performance Security – guaranteed and provable Long-term support from vendor Tools for storage and performance management Integration into mature procedural environment

Requirements by Segment l Departmental (Small Business) / Workgroup • • Cost Simple administration Quick ROI Multi vendor: server, OS, storage systems l New E-business • • • Cost Simple administration Potential large capacity Availability by replication Mature into traditional IT environment

Where Does Solution Best Fit l Enterprise Data. Center • FC-based SANs • High performance, highly scalable • Designed for storage – fits requirements for enterprise storage • Security implementation / control familiar to storage professionals • Significant deployment in enterprise (Fortune 1000 companies) • NAS • Appliances in mainly R/O environments • Metadata server in file sharing / performance environments

Where Does Solution Best Fit l Departmental (Small Business) / Workgroup • IP based SANs • May be least cost • Few storage-only professionals (normally system administrators with multiple responsibilities) • Perception of simplicity • NAS • Appliances • SAN file systems • Gateway • FC based SANs • Complete solutions without major installation effort

Where Does Solution Best Fit l New E-business • In SSP and professional service installed / managed environments: FC based SANs • • IP-based SANs for existing and growth environments NAS • Appliances • Gateway • All of the above

Other Considerations l Considerations for your environment • Will there be multiple storage networks? • Independent? • Distance • What information needs to flow? • What are the bandwidth, response time requirements? • Plan for the future • Growth • Additional requirements – Security – applications

Storage Network Linkage l Enterprise to Enterprise • Data migration over extended distances • Performance requirements and distance dictate connection • Transfer over IP – Multiple solutions • ATM, other tunneling solutions • Business continuance • Remote copy – critical performance characteristic drive connection topology • SAN may be utilized by storage system to storage system copy (example PPRC) • System-level issue not just data movement

Storage Network Linkage l Enterprise to Enterprise

Storage Network Linkage l Departmental to Enterprise • • Data distribution, upload, etc. Data protection Dynamic access based on demand frequency IP or FC based – depends on economics, performance, administration, etc. • Distance required – campus based vs. extended distance • Centralized management, security, etc.

Storage Network Linkage l Departmental to Enterprise

Roadmap for Making Decisions l Determine strategic business requirements • business environment dictates requirements l Determine storage capacity and expected growth • benefit for implementing storage network • management costs with growth l Current operational changes required • short term and long term • staffing and infrastructure

Getting Started l Make an informed decision: use a solution provider or roll your own • expertise required • who do you call when there is a problem • • who’s going to manage this who guarantees it and will make good l Become educated in either case

Deployment l Consider a phased implementation • new technology introduction requires learning curve • • • asset protection ease of integration minimize risk l Start building infrastructure • physical plant • skilled staff

Deployment l Start with simple configuration • bring online first as shake-out • make it local • use the storage management software chosen • ensure common reporting mechanisms • make sure it works from the console you’ve chosen l Build larger configuration when satisfied l Get guarantee of interoperability!!!

Deployment l Test • failure modes • addition to capacity • addition of servers • addition of switches and hubs • service / maintenance (7 X 24) • performance • normal operations • degraded • limits • • backup restore

Deployment l If solution provider is also a storage vendor - test replacement of their storage device with a competitor l Review your management choice – it is the most important one to make

Summary l Many different solutions • Many from companies with no experience in storage products • Great deal of hype and mis-information now l One size does not fit all • Differing requirements • Economics matter • Administration value • Extensibility – handle growth l Linking Storage Networks is important planning requirement • Multiple organizations involved l Critical decision for your company – choose wisely