Unified Networking on 10GbE_Intel and NetApp

6
Unied Networking for 10 Gigabit Ethernet
Scalable Performance
In terms of performance, Intel Ethernet
10 Gigabit Server Adapters combine high
throughput, intelligent hardware-based
ooads with native OS initiators, and
stable hardware, while leaving processor
cycles available for application processing.
ese adapters ooad the main data paths
to improve FCoE throughput. e net result
is comparable FCoE performance for real-
world workloads compared to that of CNAs.
In real-world implementations, SAN
performance is determined by a number
of factors, including application threading,
storage target processor speed, and disk
speeds. At typical IOP levels, processor
utilization is typically quite low, especially
in systems with the latest multicore
processors and memory controllers.
In contrast, CNA solutions based on
proprietary ooad engines may show
little if any improvement in IOPS on new
hardware platforms (although processor
utilization may improve).
Ease of Use
By using the native storage initiators
integrated into the OS, Intel Ethernet
10 Gigabit Server Adapters make it easy to
connect any server to the SAN without the
need for complicated proprietary solutions.
Standardizing on Intel Ethernet 10 Gigabit
Server Adapters delivers a number of
benets to enterprise IT:
• Trustedandvalidated
OS-based initiators
• Singleinterfacetocongurean
adapter for LAN or SAN trac
• Plug-and-Playwithexisting
management tools
• Noproprietarysoftwaretoinstall
FCoE CNAs, on the other hand, require
vendor lock-in. e management
interfaces, APIs, and drivers, of each
FCoE CNA brand typically dier, which
adds complexity.
NetApp Ethernet Storage:
Proven, I/O Unification Engine
NetApp Ethernet-based storage systems,
through their unied, multi-protocol
architecture, have delivered ecient, high-
performing storage solutions to enterprises
for over a dozen years. NetApp has been
a leader in supporting Ethernet storage,
rst as a NAS pioneer, and next as an early
proponent of iSCSI and now as a leader
with FCoE. ousands of enterprises
have deployed NetApp Ethernet storage
that simplies data management, protects
investments, and reduces total cost of
ownership. NetApp Ethernet Storage
systems deliver industry-leading eciency
through an extensive suite of virtualized
tools enabling administrators to store the
maximum amount of data for the lowest
possible cost, retain data on disk for longer
periods of time, and reduce data center
power, cooling and space costs.
I/O unication requires storage solutions
that support both le and block protocols
and take full advantage of the benets of
Ethernet. NetApp storage systems work
as a “unication engine” supporting NFS
and CIFS, iSCSI, and FCoE in the same
system, as well as leverages traditional FC
storage investments.
With NetApp NAS solutions, customers
can solve the data management challenges
of scalability, availability, and consolidation
of existing Windows*, Linux*, and UNIX*
le servers. NetApp NAS solutions oer
exible provisioning, reliable backup,
archiving, business continuity, and
virtualization.
NetApp’s robust iSCSI storage, along
with powerful data management software,
provides the best of both worlds:
performance plus the familiar Internet
Protocol. Today, more than 25,000
customers rely on NetApp iSCSI solutions.
NetApp is also an active participant in the
development and marketing of the FCoE
standard and was the rst vendor to ship
native FCoE storage systems. FCoE is a
logical progression of NetApp’s unied
storage architecture. e Open FCoE
approach is supported by NetApp and
will help to accelerate broad server to
SAN connectivity and enable SANs to
be more accessible.
As a pioneer and leader in 10GbE Storage
since calendar 2006, NetApp has shipped
over 18,000 10GbE target ports since
rst oering them in 2006 and has seen
the adoption bloom to an increase of over
100 percent in total shipments over the
last nine months. As customers look to
consolidate data center resources, they can
increase value and eciency by sharing the
bandwidth of a high-performance 10GbE-
based unied network infrastructure.
e increased bandwidth and added
enhancements to support FCoE make
10GbE the ideal interconnect for modern
data centers.