iSCSI is based upon existing industry standards, practises and applications that are known and understood by end users. iSCSI is a network storage protocol that encompasses block level SCSI data in a TCP/IP frame, thus allowing servers to access storage resources over an existing IP infrastructure. iSCSI solutions can operate over very long distances as it is IP.
iSCSI is a combination of SCSI and Ethernet technologies that have been around for more than 20 years and are fully tried and tested which enables a cost effective way to build SAN’s at much lower cost point, giving users greater consolidation in their environment.
The iSCSI storage protocol is supported by 99% of the major storage vendors and endorsed by Microsoft, IBM and Cisco therefore it is an industry standard.
iSCSI is an OPEN architecture that enables an optimised and cost effective TCO to be achieved and your TCO is protected for the future.
Fibre Channel is a TIED architecture that can only see an increase in TCO in the future.
iSCSI Advantages
Utilise your existing network
- Traditional servers can be replaced by smaller cheaper low cost servers.
- Adding more storage, no longer needs the servers to be taken down for upgrades.
- Servers run more efficiently as they have less to manage internally.
- Use non-proprietary storage SATA, SAS, SCSI, FC etc.
- When replacing servers the data no longer needs to be backed up and restored. Just snapshot the data and re-mount the storage to the new server.
- Reduced maintenance costs
- Utilises all your disk storage and takes the guess work out of how much is required
- Reduced management costs, as additional disk space can be easily added to the servers
