Migrating to FCoE
Interop Mumbai 2009
Prakash Venkatesen, Rijesh Kunhi Parambattu

Agenda
FCoE Technology Overview and Benefits
Factors to consider before migrating to FCoE
Recommended Migration Strategy
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Introduction to FCoE
FCoE enables SAN traffic to be natively transported over Ethernet
networks while protecting the investment customers have made into
the FC SAN
FCoE specification provides a direct mapping of Fibre Channel over
Ethernet
FCoE standards body includes all the major SAN vendors such as
Brocade, Cisco, EMC, IBM, Intel, Sun, Qlogic, Emulex
FCoE specification finalized in June 2009
FCoE products already available
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Data Center without FCoE
• Servers have 2 adapters
• Two different networks
FC Link
Ethernet
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Data Center with FCoE
• Only one server adapter
• Single network
• One edge switch
• Support for FC Storage
FC Link
Ethernet
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FCoE Benefits
Non-disruptive upgrade to existing FC SAN
Retains traditional FC management model
Compatibility with existing infrastructure: middleware, drivers, hardware,
management software, storage products – minimizing risk and integration costs
Reduces CAPEX
Single adapter (CNA) sufficient for both storage and Ethernet traffic
Reduces cabling
Reduces number of switches
Reduces OPEX
Fewer equipment result in lesser power consumption and cooling requirements
Less complex infrastructure
Performance: 4G/8G FC to 10G Ethernet; future transition to 40G, 100G
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Agenda
FCoE Technology Overview and Benefits
Factors to consider before migrating to FCoE
Recommended Migration Strategy
7

Physical Connectivity Requirements
Optical connectivity: IEEE 802.3 10Gbps serial
Less than 100m MM OM3 recommended to new installs for compatibility
with 40/100gE and 16/32GFC
Copper connectivity: SFP+ copper definition for external copper
connection
10GBase10-KX4/KR internal backplanes and blades
Connector for optics and copper: SFP+
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FCoE Deployments at the Edge
Current generation of FCoE switches
support deployment at the edge
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FCoE Management
Management of FCoE technology equivalent to
managing FC
FCoE CNA is represented exactly like FC HBA
FCoE switch zoning configuration works in the same way as FC
switch
FCoE targets represented as FC targets
Topology views – no difference between FC SAN and FCoE
SAN
Very little re-training needed for administrators
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Storage Applications
Storage applications handling FCoE-attached volumes
work the same way as handling FC volumes
Applications like Backup, Recovery, Snapshot work exactly like
the way they work on FC SAN
Migrating a VM from a server with FC HBA to a server with
FCoE CNA is seamless
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Higher Bandwidth Available for Virtual Servers
FCoE offers 10G bandwidth that can be used by the various VMs in
the server
Features such as I/O virtualization ensure very fast I/O
Zero copy TX and RX for each VM
Server virtualization is a key driver for higher bandwidth needs
Opportunity to consolidate to fewer more powerful servers with
flexible VM mobility
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Agenda
FCoE Technology Overview and Benefits
Factors to consider before migrating to FCoE
Recommended Migration Strategy
13

New Data Centers
For green-field deployments, the recommended choice is
to go in for an FCoE SAN
Enables network convergence with 10G as backbone
Long term OPEX savings due to FCoE
Optical connectivity with multimode OM3 fiber recommended
Compatible with 100G, up to a distance of 100m
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Existing Data Centers
For existing data centers, migrating to FCoE involves five stages:
1. Deploying FCoE at the edge
For new servers
For upgrading existing servers
2. Using FCoE for new storage deployments
3. Migrating existing Ethernet to CEE
Switches implementing final CEE standard expected to be available shortly
4. Using FCoE as the core SAN transport instead of FC
VE-port support in switches expected to be available in a year
5. Complete SAN refresh: upgrade all FC devices to FCoE
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Migrating to FCoE – Short Term
Stage 1
Stage 2
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Migrating to FCoE – Long Term
Stage 3 Stage 4
Stage 5
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