IP-SAN:An Affordable Way To Add More Storage

Small and medium businesses (SMBs) always look at the
affordability factor before accepting any new technology. IP SAN makes an
attractive option for SMB customers, as it protects your investment by riding on
the existing infrastructure with just few additions.

Moreover, this cost effective solution has almost touched the
performance levels of Fiber Channel-based SAN networks. The good news is that
IDC forecast the IP SAN market worldwide to grow 10 times in the next three
years.

What is IP-SAN?

Implementing a Storage Area Network (SAN) using IP based protocols like
iSCSI, is IP SAN. iSCSI is an Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standard
for transporting low latency SCSI blocks across IP networks.

It is simple, effective and easy to install. IP SANs are true
SANs (Storage Area Networks) in its nature that it allow hundreds of servers to
attach to an infinite number of storage volumes using iSCSI over TCP/IP networks
anywhere in the world.

With IP SANs you can scale the storage capacity to 100's of
Terabytes with any type and brand of storage system. It uses inexpensive
Ethernet technology and components like 10/100 and GigE switches, routers, VPNs,
and VLANs to deliver Fibre Channel-like speed and the high performance
equivalent of direct attached storage at a fraction of the cost. The result is
often

referred to as an IP SAN.

IP SAN solution protects investment by suing existing infrastructure. It is easier to implement, cost effective and has reached performance levels of a fiber channel network.

Advantages over other systems

While NAS, SAN, DAS are concepts, there are multiple ways to implement a
SAN. IP SAN is the latest way to implement the SAN. It is now accepted as one of
the best ways to implement a SAN as it utilizes the existing Ethernet
infrastructure and delivers mission critical performance.

This obviates the need to invest in additional or new
technology there by cutting down the learning curve and allows the organization
to use the familiar technology and protects from proprietary technology. It also
helps by protecting the investments made along with the assurance of return on
investment.

iSCSI typically costs 25% less than Fibre Channel, and that
cost translates to a more cost-effective IP SAN. Far greater economies are
possible with careful component selection.

IP SAN enables SCSI tape and disk devices to be accessed in
maximum security by using traditional IP hardware and software, anywhere an
organization's IP infrastructure extends. This means an organization that has
already invested in an IP network doesn't have to invest in a very expensive
second network simply to set up a storage area network (SAN). It is an ideal
solution for facilitating immediate data recovery and accelerated backup.

It is a threat?

IP SAN can be built in just half hour. For building an IP SAN, you just need
a server, iSCSI initiator, CAT-5/6 cable, GigE switch and iSCSI storage device.
The question that comes to mind is if IP SAN is so ubiquitous, low cost and easy
to deploy, will it threaten other storage technologies in the long run?

According to Vaidyanathan R Iyer, Country Manager, Intransa -
India, IP SAN would co-exist with all technologies deployed and augment them.
"IP SAN is the next evolution in storage area networks and is the best way
to move ahead while protecting one's investments in earlier
technologies," he adds.

Depending on the application customers will have to choose
which suits best. For instance, Dataquest India recently reported that SAN over
fiber channel is still the preferred option for telecom companies and large
enterprises with distributed IT environments.

Opportunity for partners

For channels this is the next growth opportunity. Especially for channel
players who need to provide solutions to their customers on how and where to
store data. For channels selling storage, this is important to ensure that they
are the cutting edge of technology and are able to provide the customers the
correct choice.

Also since this requires less of training, channels can take
on to this much faster. Being IP, customer acceptance is faster, there by
cutting down the traditional sales cycle in IT storage solutions.

IP SAN is ubiquitous. So this can be used by any customer
across business verticals. As IP SAN is freely scalable, customer size from the
lowest level to the high end can be easily addressed. IP-SANs also include
mechanisms for security, data replication, multi-pathing and high availability.

IP SAN vendors

IP SAN today has moved from evangelization to production stage. IP SAN is a
well accepted technology, so much so lot of earlier SAN players are compelled to
include iSCSI protocol in their solutions. There are many vendors who provide
iSCSI based blocks in the existing technology.

One of the big names in the IP SAN market is Network
Appliance with highest market share worldwide. Few other players propagating IP
SAN are Intransa, Sanrad, EqualLogic, LeftHand Networks and StoneFly Networks.
Couple of years ago, EMC, Dell (co-branding EMC products), and IBM also entered
the IP SAN market. The entry of big Fibre Channel SAN players into the IP SAN
fray is both a threat and a promise to those smaller companies who have made
iSCSI their battle cry.

According to Iyer, Intransa, solutions from most of these
players cannot be called true IP SANs as the underlying technology is still
proprietary and not IP. Intransa claims that it provides the native true IP SAN
solution and has around 40 installations in the country in a span of just over a
year.

Now who is providing the right solution is for the customers
to find out after weighing pros and cons. Many Indian customers are already
reaping the benefits of this technology.

Its high speed performance makes it an excellent choice for backup and recovery
over IP network. And remember it is affordable. What more does an IT team want
to trumpet about this

technology.

NELSON JOHNY