FC SANs and iSCSI SANs are two of the most popular storage area network (SAN) technologies available. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it's important to choose the right one for your specific needs. In this blog post, we compare FC SANs and iSCSI SANs to help you make an informed decision. For more information visit : https://stonefly.com/storage/nas-storage

1. ERROR fo
Invalid do
FC SAN vs iSCSI SAN:
What’s the Difference?
Storage area networks (SANs) are a permanent fixture in corporate data centers used to
host high-performance block-level structured workloads such as databases, applications,
etc. If you’re familiar with SAN systems, then you’ve heard of Fibre Channel (FC) and iSCSI
SAN protocols. Both SAN storage protocols have their pros and cons, making it worthwhile to
take a minute and learn the differences between the two; especially if you’re looking to set
up a new SAN environment, or replace/expand an existing one.
In this blog we compare FC SAN vs iSCSI SAN to help you make an informed decision for your
SAN storage systems.
What is FC SAN?
Fibre Channel SAN, or FC SAN, is a block-level storage protocol that uses Fibre Channel
technology to connect storage devices to servers. Fibre Channel is a high-speed data
transfer protocol used for mission-critical zero-tier applications and databases such as
online transactional processing (OTLP), online ticketing, banking applications, data analytics,
genome research, video analytics, media and production environments, artificial intelligence
(AI), machine learning (ML), etc.
The typical throughput speeds of a Fibre Channel SAN are 8 Gbps, 16 Gbps, and 32 Gbps
and can also go up to 128Gbps by combining four 32 Gb lanes. The Fibre Channel SAN
protocol was originally developed as a more reliable, scalable, and low latency alternative
to iSCSI SANs.
What are the Benefits of FC SAN?
Products  Solutions  Company  Resources  Downloads  Blog Partners Contact Us 
Shop 
0 Items
StoneFly Technical Support 510-265-1616 My Account 


2. Low Latency: Fibre Channel SANs support comparatively faster IOPs and throughput than
iSCSI SANs because FC Sans are purpose-built for lower latency and lower overhead
(require host bus adapter – HBA).
Best Suited for Mission-Critical Applications: As opposed to iSCSI SANs that use the
Ethernet network, Fibre Channel SANs are isolated from non-storage traffic, making them
ideal for mission-critical workloads.
Drawbacks of FC SAN:
Specialized Adapters and Separate Network: To use an FC SAN, businesses have to get
specialized FC SAN adapters and switches and configure two networks: storage network FC
and an ethernet network for other communications.
Steep Learning Curve: FC SANs has a higher learning curve than iSCSI SANs. It’s more
manually intensive and difficult to manage – requiring more training, and a greater
knowledge-base to effectively manage the FC SAN.
Changes are disruptive: In most cases, FC SAN changes and updates are disruptive. If any
changes need to be made, they have to be scheduled beforehand.
Expensive: As FC SAN requires specialized hardware and the organization still needs to set
up an ethernet network for non-storage communications, the initial cost (CapEx) is higher
than iSCSI SANs. Additionally, FC SAN management is difficult. It takes more time and the on-
going costs (OpEx) are relatively higher as well.
What is iSCSI SAN?
Internet Small Computer System Interface SAN, or iSCSI SAN, is a SAN storage protocol that
uses Ethernet network to connect storage devices to servers. iSCSI SANs use the standard
TCP/IP network to transfer SCSI packets from source to target block storage.
An iSCSI SAN supports 1Gbps, 10Gbps, 40Gbps, and 100 Gbps. Unlike FC SAN, iSCSI networks
have a higher latency because the TCP/IP network isn’t dedicated only to storage traffic.
What are the benefits of iSCSI SAN?
Easy to implement and manage: iSCSI SANs use the standard TCP/IP and Ethernet
networking which makes it easier to set up and manage compared to FC SANs.
Furthermore, the built-in automation in iSCSI SANs adds to the simplicity of network
management.
Non-Disruptive Changes: When comparing Fibre Channel vs iSCSI, iSCSI SANs allow non-
disruptive and dynamic changes – whereas changes to Fibre Channel applications are
disruptive and have to be scheduled beforehand.
Less Expensive than FC SAN: iSCSI SANs cost less upfront (CapEx) and are less expensive to
maintain (OpEx) since they use standard Ethernet network routers, adapters, and switches.
Drawbacks of iSCSI SAN:
Higher Latency than FC SANs: As iSCSI SANs share the Ethernet network with other
workloads in a mixed network, it’s more prone to latency than Fibre Channel which is a
dedicated network for block-storage only. While iSCSI SAN does support throughput speeds
up to 100Gbps, the fact that the mixed network is prone to latency, makes it comparatively
less suitable for mission-critical zero-tier workloads.
Now that we’ve covered the basics of FC SANs and iSCSI SANs, let’s compare the two side-
by-side.
FC SAN vs iSCSI SAN – Which SAN is better?
Performance: When it comes to the throughput speed of FC SAN vs iSCSI SAN, iSCSI SAN can
support up to 100Gbps. However, iSCSI SAN runs on the standard Ethernet and TCP/IP
network which is shared with communication and other data channels. This mixed network
makes iSCSI SANs vulnerable to latency.

3. On the other hand, Fibre Channel can go up to 128Gbps and is a dedicated network for
block-level storage. This makes FC SANs less prone to latency and much more reliable for
mission-critical workloads.
Management: Fibre Channel SAN is more difficult to manage than iSCSI SAN. That’s because
Fibre Channel requires a dedicated network and specialized adapters, and switches. If you
choose to use FC SANs, then you have to manage two networks: one for the FC SAN block
storage and the second for communication and data management.
Alternatively, since iSCSI SAN uses the standard Ethernet network, it’s much easier to
manage.
Cost: Since Fibre Channel SAN requires specialized hardware, and is more complex than
iSCSI SAN, it has higher CapEx and OpEx. It’s important to note that while iSCSI SAN are more
cost-effective, the performance capabilities of the Fibre Channel SAN make the cost worth
it.
FC SAN vs iSCSI SAN: How to Choose the Right SAN for your
Business?
Which SAN is better for your business? The answer: it depends.
FC SAN is great for environments that have the budget and expertise to set up and
manage a dedicated fibre channel network. It gives the business reliable performance for
their mission-critical workloads and is therefore a great asset.
On the other hand, iSCSI SAN runs on Ethernet network. This makes them great for businesses
looking to run high performance workloads without having to purchase dedicated network
hardware.
The right SAN for your business depends on your:
Performance requirements
Expertise to manage SAN systems (specifically FC SAN)
Available resources and budget
Custom-Build Your Fibre Channel and/or iSCSI SAN with
StoneFly
StoneFly pioneered the creation, development, and deployment of the iSCSI storage
protocol and products. Beginning with its registration of the www.iscsi.com Internet domain
name in March 1996, StoneFly shipped its first iSCSI storage appliance in 2002, and has
expanded the SAN product line to include Fibre Channel SAN available as single-node
integrated SAN (ISC™) and high availability modular and disaggregated SAN (Voyager™).
StoneFly iSCSI and FC SAN are available as 8, 12, 16, 24, 36-bay appliances. The 4U
rackmounts can support up to 1.5PBs of scalable raw storage capacity per chassis. The
block storage capacity can be further increased by adding Expandable Bunch of Drives
(EBODs). Depending on the SAN appliance series and model, each rackmount can support
up to 256 drives using EBODs or more with FC SAN switches.
StoneFly SAN appliances come preconfigured with our patented 8 generation award
winning software-defined storage solution: StoneFusion™.
StoneFusion enables StoneFly SAN appliances to offer:
Optional Integrated Ransomware Protection Suite – StoneFly SAN storage solutions
support the following optional integrated automated ransomware protection features:
Automated Always-On Air® Gapped Backups
Immutable Storage using S3 Object Lockdown
Immutable File Lockdown Technology
Delta-Based SnapLock Immutable and Air-Gapped
th

4. Anti-Ransomware with Automated Detection and Removal of Dormant Ransomware
High availability with clustering and automated failover/failback: No single point of
failure, set up high availability (HA) automated failover/failback clusters that ensure your
critical operations continue seamlessly. StoneFly SAN combines hardware RAID controller
and erasure coding to prevent failure within the node and/or across the cluster to avoid
data loss and reduce downtime to near-zero.
Real-time performance reporting: Effectively control and manage your infrastructure
with real-time graphical performance reporting of CPU, network, storage capacity,
throughput, and more.
Conclusion
FC SAN offer low latency and lossless networking for mission-critical workloads but require
specialized hardware and are typically expensive. iSCSI SAN use the standard ethernet and
TCP/IP network and are easy to set up and manage but are prone to latency because of
the mixed network.
FC SAN or iSCSI SAN? Which one is better for your business? Depends on your performance
requirements, expertise, and available resources.
Need help finding the right SAN storage for your business? Talk to our experts today to
discuss your block storage projects.
Related Products
Veeam-ready backup and disaster recovery appliance (DR365V)
Unified Storage and Server (USS™) Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI)
Unified Scale-Out (USO™) SAN, NAS, and S3 Object Storage Appliance
Search Search
Recent Popular

5. DDoS Attacks Decoded: Defending Against Modern Cyber Onslaughts
Botnets Unveiled: Navigating the Underworld of Cyber Threats

6. Demystifying SQL Injection: How It Works and How to Defend Against It
Remote Access Trojans (RATs): The Silent Invaders of Cybersecurity

7. How to Set Up Immutable Snapshots for Ransomware Protection
You May Also Like

9. Send
GET IN TOUCH WITH US
Contact Name*
Company*
Phone* (extensions can be entered in the "Message" field)
Email Address*
Message
*All fields with an asterisk are required.
By submitting this request you agree to be contacted and receive product information via email or call. You may
unsubscribe at any point.
ABOUT STONEFLY
Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Castro Valley – StoneFly, Inc. was established with the vision to simplify, optimize and deliver
high performance budget-friendly data center solutions for SMBs, SMEs, and large enterprises. Beginning with its registration of the
iSCSI.com Internet domain name in March 1996, StoneFly has made iSCSI into a standard which is now used by IT professionals around
the world.
With over 24 years of innovation in data storage, hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI), and backup and disaster recovery (DR)
industries and technology partnerships with market leaders like VMware, Veeam, Microsoft Azure, and AWS cloud, StoneFly’s range of
ever-growing data management products continue to grow and include physical, virtual, and cloud solutions such as NAS, SAN, S3,
unified NAS + SAN + S3 appliances, storage gateways, backup gateways, complete backup and DR systems, RAID systems, IP video
surveillance storage systems, data migration software and more – powered by StoneFly’s patented 8th generation storage
virtualization software StoneFusion™ and integrated with enterprise features and data services.
Learn More
© 2023 StoneFly | All Rights Reserved 
 
 
