IP Storage Network: The Big Challenge
Marcelino Benitez
CIS 5430: Comp Networks for Info Spec
Florida Institute of Technology
Abstract
The technology of the networks has evolved in such a way that it has headed to the creation of
the storage in a network model, where the host servers can have access to storage offering this
service from different devices that are connected in a network. With the initial approach to
network storage this has created a specialization in network technology. With the creation of
the Gigabit Ethernet technology, this has raised a number of questions and doubts on how IP
networks could be accommodated or used for storage. This paper will evaluate different
problems that involve the use of IPs within storage networks.
Introduction
With the constant increase and need for data storage that most companies need, data
management has become a high priority issue. The application of servers, databases and file
systems has lately created a dependency in the presence of an efficient and reliable storage
management system. In the past, storage models were assumed to be attached to each server.
This type of host server storage depended on the Small Computer System Interface (SCSI)
protocol. This protocol emerged as predominant within the host server due to its organization,
cleanliness and well-standardized message-based interface. Thus, over the years, it allowed
commands to be executed on storage devices and allowing these commands to be overlapped.
As most of the storages are local to the server, the preferred method of transport connection
was the use of Parallel SCSI where multiple storage devices were connected to the server with
the cable-based bus. One of the problems that this type of system or configuration brought
with the passage of time was that the need for storage and servers grew, and obviously its
create a limitation to this technology. One of them was the use of parallel cables, which limited
the number of storage devices and the distance between the devices and the main server. This
limit implies the addition of more storage devices and consequently the acquisition of more
servers. Another problem is the concept of connecting devices to each host server, which
implies that each device needs to be managed as an individual server and that in turn incurs a
huge maintenance cost. Finally, this technology would not allow easy storage and share
between servers.
The lack of scalability and manageability of the host server-attached storage model led to the
evolution of the concept of a storage area network. The storage devices are supposed to be
independent machines that provide storage services over many server networks. The beauty of
this style is that the host server can share a large number of storage devices primarily towards
easy storage management. At the arrival of the network infrastructure with the capacity of
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gigabit speed, facilitates the storage service within a network. Further still, storage can be
added, removed, or updated without causing servers to go offline.
A big question arises, is it possible that the service that SCSI provides can be improved or more
efficient with Ethernet IP networks and be able to satisfy the requirements of the storage area
networks?
IP Storage
“IP storage is the use of IP-based technology to access storage devices using TCP/IP networks”
[1]. Storage protocols can be classified as file, block, and object storage. IP storage is a general
term for the different approaches in the use of the Internet Protocol in a storage area network
(SAN) usually through the use of Gigabit Ethernet. IP storage is an alternative to the Fibre
Channel in where by definition, is a high-speed networking technology primarily used for
transmitting data among data centers, computer servers, switches and storage at data rates of
up to 128 Gbps, framework of the traditional SAN. This technology has been in use since the
mid-1990s, but it has not enjoyed much popularity as designers and creators expected. This
Fibre Channel technology has some problems such as high cost, complexity, and
interoperability in where will be discuss later on.
Compared to the parallel SCSI protocol technology, it also supports gigabit network speeds but
with a limitation of distance and device connectivity that hinders the acceptance of connectivity
with other devices. This is because this technology is more convenient for connecting to a
specific host rather than being available to a network service in which it is managed separately.
In this way, it remains to mention that there are different network service protocols such as
Fibre Channel or ISCSI [3] that have been developed to overcome these limitations while at the
same time continuing to provide network attached block storage at gigabit speed.
ISCSI is another type of network with the intention of connecting devices with shared storage. It
can run up to 100 Gbps but provides different simplifications for data center operators. This
system, like Fiber Channel, uses the same cabling, networks adapters, switches and other
network components in any Ethernet network and in turn iSCSI can operate on the same
Ethernet LAN, without a separate LAN, and can exchange data over the LAN, WAN and the
internet. In a cost comparison related to Fiber Channel iSCSI costs are lower because it can
connect to the application server to shared storage without incurring extremely expensive
equipment or cabling.
Performance
Since the past years, FC and iSCSI have been on the most controversial topics in the storage
area. It is impossible to reach a consensus on which standard is most suitable for a company.
This debate has been created by two major factors.
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1. FC was created first in the SAN, the large storage vendors and manufacturer, who
invested in the FC market against young, low-cost, iSCSI.
2. IT administrators who have been using FC SAN for years think that iSCSI is a slower,
unreliable architecture and that it will die faster
The problem is that there is nothing concrete that can certify or verify on these ideas.
A quick comparison on this two systems:
Attribute Fibre Channel iSCSI
Bandwidth (Gbps) 8/16/32/128 10/25/40/100
Adapter Latency 50us Wide range
Switch latency per hop 700 ns 200 ns
Adapter HBA – Host Bus Adapter NIC – network interface card
Switch Brands Cisco, Brocade HPE, Cisco, Brocade
Interface Card Brands QLogic, Emulex Intel, QLogic
Deployment Amount XX XXX
Reliability XXX XX
Ease of Management XX XXX
Future Upgrade path XXX XXX
Legend: X – Low, XX – Medium, XXX – High [4]
Fiber Channel became the leading choice for SAN networks during the mid-1990s. Traditionally
FC networks contain special purpose hardware called Fibre Channel switches that connect to
the storages for the SAN and also Fiber Channel HBAs (Host Bus Adapters) that connect these
switches to the servers. FC is a mature system of low latency, high bandwidth and is very simple
to configure and manage.
Based on the comparison table from above, it can be concluded that Fibre Channel is one of the
best protocols for data storage network infrastructure due to its maturity, low-latency, high-
bandwidth and easy to configure and manage, but one of the disadvantages is that not many
vendors make this technology and that consequently makes it more expensive. iSCSI is a good
option and is less expensive than Fibre Channel. Apparently this technology is more viable for
small organizations ta cannot afford FC.
Conclusion
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Advanced networking technology has brought the concept of network storage to a level that
has become a normal service for host servers. The raised of gigabit Ethernet technology has
created many questions and doubts if we could really use this convenience of the IP network
for storage instead of using specialized storage area networks.
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References
[1] IP storage networking. (n.d.). Cisco. https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/data-center-
virtualization/ip-storage-networking/index.html
[2] What is a storage area network (SAN)? (2019, August 25). SearchStorage.
https://searchstorage.techtarget.com/definition/storage-area-network-SAN
[3] What is iSCSI and how does it work? (2019, May 23).
https://www.enterprisestorageforum.com/storage-hardware/iscsi.html
[4] Storage protocols comparison - Fibre channel, FCoE, Infiniband, iSCSI? (n.d.). EDGE
Optical Solutions. https://edgeoptic.com/storage-protocols-comparison-fibre-channel-fcoe-
infiniband-iscsi/
