Ethernet over Fibre Channel
Not FCoE... ethernet over fibre channel.
I have two geographically separate sites... they're quite happily connected by fibre.
At present, I have FC GBICs plugged into Cisco Catalyst switches on either side, and it essentially gives me one big LAN.
The SAN at each site is FC, and I do application-based replication across this WAN from production to DR (ethernet based communication).
I just had a realization, but it may be one of those "no that's dumb" ideas. I've not tried it, and testing it would involve disconnecting about 100 users from internet and production services... so not a good idea without a maintenance window.
Could I connect my Catalyst ethernet switches to the SAN fabric, connect the fibre between the sites to the fabric, maintaining my multi-site LAN and gaining one big multi-site SAN?
In case it matters, they're HP SAN Switches (Broacade Silkworm 200e).
I have two geographically separate sites... they're quite happily connected by fibre.
At present, I have FC GBICs plugged into Cisco Catalyst switches on either side, and it essentially gives me one big LAN.
The SAN at each site is FC, and I do application-based replication across this WAN from production to DR (ethernet based communication).
I just had a realization, but it may be one of those "no that's dumb" ideas. I've not tried it, and testing it would involve disconnecting about 100 users from internet and production services... so not a good idea without a maintenance window.
Could I connect my Catalyst ethernet switches to the SAN fabric, connect the fibre between the sites to the fabric, maintaining my multi-site LAN and gaining one big multi-site SAN?
In case it matters, they're HP SAN Switches (Broacade Silkworm 200e).
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Unfragmented has exactly the idea.
Specifically, I was asking about option 2. Would I need specialized hardware to allow for E over FC, or would the existing FC SFP work? Or is that something that I'm not really going to be sure about without trying?
Specifically, I was asking about option 2. Would I need specialized hardware to allow for E over FC, or would the existing FC SFP work? Or is that something that I'm not really going to be sure about without trying?
I personal have never heard of transporting Ethernet over FC and as of right now can't find any reference to it.
Depending on the distance (latency) and bandwidth, I would look at doing FCIP as it can give you data compression on the FC traffic.
Depending on the distance (latency) and bandwidth, I would look at doing FCIP as it can give you data compression on the FC traffic.
ASKER
I'll wait to see if unfragmented comes back with more details about the EoFC.
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unfortunately as giltjr has pointed out, transporting ip and/or ethernet over fc didn't really take off, so i wouldn't call it a commercial solution. The only reason i mentioned it was to ensure I understood your question.
I've heard of people experimenting with it in the linux hacker spaces, but its definitely not as simple as plugging an ethernet SFP into a FC switch.
Personally, I would stick with option 4, due to its low complexity, but at the end of the day if FCoE or FCIP do the job, then its a success.
I've heard of people experimenting with it in the linux hacker spaces, but its definitely not as simple as plugging an ethernet SFP into a FC switch.
Personally, I would stick with option 4, due to its low complexity, but at the end of the day if FCoE or FCIP do the job, then its a success.
ASKER
Thank you both for your thoughts on the matter. Appreciate your time.
The choice of FCoE or FCIP is based on bandwidth you can afford and latency.
FCoE likes high bandwidth and low latency. FCIP is more forgiving of higher latency and lower bandwidth, but only because it can do compression.
FCoE likes high bandwidth and low latency. FCIP is more forgiving of higher latency and lower bandwidth, but only because it can do compression.
What protocol are you running over the WAN? What type of WAN is it?
You also stated:
"At present, I have FC GBICs plugged into Cisco Catalyst switches on either side, and it essentially gives me one big LAN."
This is confusing as FC is not a LAN protocol, but a SAN protocol. So I don't understand what you mean by having FC GBIC's in a Catalyst switch gives you one big "LAN.".
What type of Cisco Catalyst switch do you have.