Question and Answer of FCoE Technology

What are the hardware requirements for deploying FCoE? What are your suggestions for optimizing FCoE deployment?

In general, FCoE needs a switch that can bridge the data center to datacenterbridging, DCB) to expand the traditional Ethernet so that it is suitable for transmitting storage traffic without losing data. Some, but not all) Ethernet vendors support the dcb feature of the 10GbE switch. At the same time, the converged network adapter convergednetworkadapter, CNA) is suitable for FCoE. CNA can be used for Traditional Ethernet and Fiber Channel host bus adapters hostbusadapter, HBA), and supports Ethernet and fiber channel at the same cable and at the same time. These CNA are both over Ethernet and over fiber channel at 10 Gbps.

What software is required to deploy FCoE? How well are these software stacks applicable to FCoE?

We have been running FCoE since, first on Windows. FCoE supports Linux, Solaris, and other operating systems of the latest version. Each CAN adapter has a driver that works in a suitable environment. In addition, many CNA vendors use the same suite of drivers for both local fiber channels and FCoE. FCoE also supports VMware. At present, some people are trying to make FCoE as much as iSCSI in the operating system, but it depends on how many people will buy it later.

Does FCoE have a storage subsystem that meets specific needs? What are the functions of the Fiber Channel subsystem?

FCoE supports the storage subsystem locally, which has been publicly declared by some vendors. NetApp has also implemented local FCoE support, as have other vendors. FCoEfabric must be compatible with local fiber channel fabric, and FCoE must support all fiber channel functions. Let's test the servers that have FCoECAN connect to the DCB/FCoE switch and their local fibre Channel ports are also connected to the local fibre channel storage system) to see if they are running as expected. At the storage system interface level, FCoE is equivalent to a 10 Gbps Optical Fiber Channel. The only difference is that it is connected to the DCB/FCoE switch, rather than the local Fiber Channel switch.

Is there any management tool suitable for FCoE storage? How much does FCoE support third-party data center management tools? Also, is it better to integrate management tools with storage subsystems?

DCB/FCoE vswitches have their own partition interfaces, but they are mainly dependent on suppliers, which are similar to their corresponding Fiber Channel interfaces. HBA/CAN vendors use the same management interface as previously used on adapters. storage vendors that support FCoE will make the management interface similar to fiber channel.

Although we have not tested many third-party storage management software, FCoE and fiber rechannel should be similar for these management software. The main difference is that FCoE storage will be connected to different vswitches, rather than local fiber channel storage.

What are your suggestions on best practices for FCoE deployment?

FCoE, I call it "Slow-hot technology", should be considered when planning to configure new data centers, new servers, or storage expansion. The biggest problem is that in the FCoE deployment process, Ethernet workers must learn about the storage network and Ethernet, because until now, the rules are different. Wiring also needs to be considered. For example, OM3 and OM4 are suitable for FCoE and 10GbE cabling, while fiber channel is suitable for faster speeds.
 

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