Dell EqualLogic iSCSI SAN for Fibre Channel Professionals User Guide
Summary
This Dell technical whitepaper explains EqualLogic iSCSI SAN concepts for experienced Fibre Channel storage professionals. It covers fabric architecture comparisons, network congestion prevention, multipath I/O, and best practices for deploying iSCSI storage in enterprise environments. The manual targets storage administrators and IT professionals transitioning from Fibre Channel to iSCSI technologies, providing detailed guidance on configuration, performance optimization, and network design.
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Dell Equal Logic Best Practices Series
Equal Logic i SCSI SAN Concepts for the Experienced Fibre Channel Storage Professional A Dell Technical Whitepaper
Storage Infrastructure and Solutions Engineering Dell Product Group January 2012
Page Summary Contents For Dell EqualLogic iSCSI SAN for Fibre Channel Professionals User Guide
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Dell Equal Logic Best Practices Series Equal Logic i SCSI SAN Concepts for the Experienced Fibre Channel Storage Professional A Dell Technical Whitepaper Storage Infrastructure and Solutions Engineeri...
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THIS WHITE PAPER IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, AND MAY CONTAIN TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS AND TECHNICAL INACCURACIES. THE CONTENT IS PROVIDED AS IS, WITHOUT EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND. ...
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Contents 1 Overview ............................................................................................................................................................. 2 2 Audience ............
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Acknowledgements This whitepaper was produced by the PG Storage Infrastructure and Solutions of Dell Inc. The team that created this whitepaper: Mike Kosacek, Tony Ansley and Camille Daily We would li...
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1 Overview As data storage has become central to any successful computer based solution, advanced technologies for connecting computing resources to data have matured over the last four decades. From ...
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3 Fibre Channel and i SCSI basic comparison The roots of both the FC and i SCSI protocols are the same – SCSI. Both protocols were developed to improve upon this well-established standard, and to allo...
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4 Fabric architecture comparison 4.1 Network congestion and prevention FC utilizes a credit or token method of dealing with congestion, or more accurately of preventing congestion altogether. When end...
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4.2 Packet and frame size A typical FC frame is around 2148 bytes (up to 2112 bytes in the data field). Ethernet packets are typically around 1518 bytes; however, if “Jumbo Frames” are configured, tha...
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Some Ethernet switches have stacking abilities, where a dedicated (usually proprietary) interface is connected between two or more switches, allowing them to be managed as a single switch and also to ...
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5 Host adapters/interface card comparison 5.1 FC host bus adapters In the FC architecture, each host has (preferably) at least two FC HBAs, which provide the hardware and logic to connect the host ser...
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6 Storage array architecture comparison 6.1 Fibre Channel arrays FC storage systems have been around for over a decade and there are numerous choices when selecting a FC environment. While these syste...
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An FC system may have a mix of drive types (such as FC, SAS, SATA, and SSD disk), or it may only have a single type. Depending on the type of array, it may have multiple ports for front-end and back-e...
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With Equal Logic PS Series storage each array contains a number of disks that are usually of the same type – one exception being “hybrid” arrays which contain a mix of SAS and SSD disks. When an array...
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From a host perspective, a group of Equal Logic arrays appears as a single storage system. A built-in network load balancer transparently redirects i SCSI requests to the proper member as needed. Howe...
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7 Security concept comparison Security within the concepts of data storage provides benefits including: • Ensuring that hostile hosts do not gain access to stored sensitive data • Limiting access to s...
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8 Storage management Many traditional enterprise storage systems utilize licensing tiers or add-ons to enable advanced features such as snapshots, clones, replication, and advanced monitoring or syste...
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9 Conclusion Both FC and i SCSI Storage Area Networks require proper planning and deployment to ensure optimal functionality and performance. There are various hardware choices available for i SCSI co...
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Appendix A Common terminology The following terms are used throughout this paper: DCB: Data Center Bridging – a set of enhancements to Ethernet Protocols to prioritize specific types of traffic in dat...
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Appendix B Related publications The following Dell publications are referenced in this document and are recommended sources for additional information. • Dell Equal Logic PS Series SANs Validated Comp...
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THIS WHITE PAPER IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, AND MAY CONTAIN TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS AND TECHNICAL INACCURACIES. THE CONTENT IS PROVIDED AS IS, WITHOUT EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND.
Manual Details
| Brand | Dell |
|---|---|
| Pages | 20 |
| File Size | 556.54 KB |
| Published | June 25, 2026 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Storage Area Network (SAN)?
A SAN is a dedicated network typically used to provide connectivity between storage resources and host servers.
What is the difference between an HBA and a NIC in this context?
An HBA (Host Bus Adapter) is for Fibre Channel connections, while a NIC (Network Interface Card) is used for iSCSI over Ethernet networks.
How are multiple arrays managed together?
Multiple EqualLogic PS Series arrays can be managed as a single entity within a Storage Group. A group can contain up to 4 pools.
What should I remember regarding this whitepaper's content?
This document is provided for informational purposes only and may contain technical inaccuracies; it does not include express or implied warranties.