Mixing Gigabit Ethernet and 10 Gigabit Ethernet in a Dedicated SAN Infrastructure

As organizations transition to 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) technology, the proposed Data Center Bridging (DCB) specification is expected to provide a unified network fabric. These advances can enhance the network storage infrastructure by helping to simplify inefficient deployments of Ethernet adapters, Fibre Channel host bus adapters (HBAs), and cabling that populate many data centers today.

Moving to an infrastructure that mixes Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) and 10GbE using Dell^TM  EqualLogic^TM  PS Series Internet SCSI (iSCSI) storage area network (SAN) arrays and Dell PowerConnect^TM  switches enables administrators to incrementally integrate servers and storage with 10GbE network access as they become available while maintaining legacy GbE hosts and storage. The reference architecture illustrated in this article—based on Dell EqualLogic PS6000 series arrays, Dell PowerConnect 6248 switches, and a Dell PowerEdge^TM  M1000e modular blade enclosure—provides one example of a mixed infrastructure that can support GbE and 10GbE hosts today and is capable of integrating expected 10GbE iSCSI arrays into the existing GbE SAN group to create a foundation for future growth. Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) can also enable organizations to connect legacy Fibre Channel networks to a 10GbE network, enhancing flexibility and enabling a move to converged FCoE and iSCSI using Ethernet on the same adapters.

Organizations considering iSCSI do not need to wait for 10GbE iSCSI arrays—administrators can roll out a 10GbE switch infrastructure and leverage existing GbE iSCSI storage and hosts today. As 10GbE host network adapters and storage targets—both FCoE and iSCSI—become available, these technologies can be incrementally introduced into the SAN infrastructure. In this way, familiar Ethernet implementation helps simplify IT and reduce total cost of ownership, while helping IT staffs to prepare for expected storage and networking technology advancements.

By Tony Ansley

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