iSCSI Deployment in Business IP Storage Network

摘要

According to industry experts, Internet Small Computer Systems Interface (iSCSI) represents a major technology that converges the best of traditional storage and network infrastructures. IP-based Storage Area Networks (IP SANs) are often based on the iSCSI protocol, a standard method of encapsulating SCSI commands into TCP/IP packets and transporting them over standard network infrastructures. IDC predicts the total market for iSCSI-based disk arrays will grow from $216 million in 2003 to $4.9 billion in 2007 (118% CAGR). One reason for this explosive growth is that iSCSI SANs provide more flexibility than direct-attached storage (DAS) at a lower infrastructure cost than Fibre Channel SANs, by enabling enterprise applications such as e-mail, databases, and remote disk/tape backup to move data over TCP/IP networks. Since IT personnel are already familiar with Ethernet networking technology, the total cost of ownership (TCO) for an iSCSI SAN is dramatically reduced.