If you run a small business or even a large one, a data centre is likely to be your mission critical hub and serves as a solid foundation for all your communication needs. As far as taking to storage over networks is concerned, your choices will boil down to either opting for a Fibre Channel or iSCSI. Which one should you go for? Which one makes for a better choice for your business?
Advantages and Disadvantages of a Fibre Channel Network
If you are looking for speed and lower latency, a Fiber Channel delivers better. A Fiber channel network stands on its own and can be linked to your network through links that don’t carry any traffic whatsoever. Fiber channel networks have advantages over other technologies such as SCSI as in they require much shorter cable distances (approximately 30 mtrs Vs a few KM for SCSI). Additionally, they require fewer devices while making it easy for you to share devices between multiple servers.
However, you need to be aware of the needs of a fiber channel network which usually includes specific FC switches and outrageously expensive FC (Fiber Channel) HBAs for each server within your network. Since redundancy is critical, you will be looking to have at least two per server. Also, deploying a fiber channel network involves jettisoning your iSCSI infrastructure completely and buying FC HBAs, which involves a lot of money.
Advantages and Disadvantages of an iSCSI network
Are you running a business that has a lot to do with databases and thousands of transactions while running your business operations? iSCSI could be a better choice when it comes to managing operations like that, according to The Networking Dive, an Infoworld special report, January 2010[1]. iSCSI networks can be run on the standard gigabit copper ports and they can be built using the same Ethernet switches (although they need to be dedicated Ethernet switches with their own VLAN) with traffic separated for better performance.
Further, you need to exercise caution when buying or choosing switches needed for your iSCSI network since vendors can sometimes sells switches that only function for normal network loads and not for iSCSI networks. Due to this, the traffic can clog, choke or even kill the network.
While you are the best judge as to what kind of network you would like to base your network on which depends on many factors including budget, operational needs and demands of your business, etc, you might best consult with experts before you take your wallet out.
The decision, hence, is yours to make!
Before you make these big decisions, it might best if you talk to us about it. We consult with orange county businesses on networking and IT to help them roll out just the kind of network that fits best with their businesses. Check out our Network Management Services, Managed IT Services or any of our other services.
References:
[1] The Networking Deep Dive, Infoworld Special Report, January 2010
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