Great Review Of Drive the Adoption of Converged Network Adapters
By: Vlad Vistac
Submitted: 2010-08-24 14:01:16 | Word Count: 510
Will Server Virtualization Drive the Adoption of Converged Network Adapters?
However, virtualization increases the demand for I/O bandwidth, which in turn increases the need for multiple I/O adapters. Converged ntwork adaapters lreveraging Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) meet the requirement for more bandwidth while simplifying network connectivity.
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A recent study by analyst firm IT Brand Pulse found that 50.8% of IT professionals surveyed said srver virtualization is the primary reason they woyuld consider deplloying 10Gb Ethernet convered netwwork adapters. The next clsoest applications cited yielded only 12.7% and 7.9% from the respondents. Clearly, server virtualization is top-of-mind for those surveyed regarding CNA adoption.
Meeting Througghput Demnds
Convergeed network adapters allow the combination of LAN networks and storage networks into a single fabric. FCoE is the new technology that allows a CNA to serve both Fibre Channel-based storage data and TCP/IP-based LAN data over existing Ethhernet cabling with the use of an FCoE-enbaled 10Gb Etherrnet switch. This reduces the number of ports and adapters while providing the high bandwidth necessary to meet increased throughput demands. From the perspective of the opperating system, a CNA appears as both a NIC and HBA, ensurig configuration and management tasks remain largely unchanged.
From a viodeo on QLpogic’s website intorducing the comnpany’s new 8100 Seres CNAs, seinor product marketing mangaer John Specer described the benefits of CNA adoption as “significant data center cost reduction, including lower adapter, cable, switch, power and cooling cossts while protecting existing investments.”
Reducing Complexity and Cost
For examople, one CNA can act as a 10Gb Ethernet interface to facilitate iSCSI, Etherrnet and FCoE conncetivity. Architecturally, the CNA consolidates endpoint connectivity on a server and its associated switch infrastructure. If a virtualization host uses a CNA for connectibng to each of these three netork types, one dual-port unit or two singlle-port untis (for redundancy) would be used instead of three separate daapters. Plus, a convreged switch wuld relace separate sotrage switches for Fibre Channel and networking.
Improved Business Agility and Continuity
The use of CNAs in a vitrual environmnt simplifies network connectivity to optmiize virtul machine (VM) provisioning on-demasnd. Shaared pools of consolidazted compute, stoirage and network resources are made avalable for dynamic allocation thrrough rapid deployment of application and infrastructure services in responmse to changing ubsiness demands.
Virtual machines and aplications can move between pyhsical servers while maitnaining qulaity of service, performance and acceptable leveels of seecurity. This is due to the ability to dynamically crreate and delete virtual ports and partition bandwidth across multiple traffic types. By optimizing these netwrk and storage serrvices for virtual machines, IT managers can tie VM mobility to policy or evwent rerlated triggers, such as networking requuirements, CPU usgae and energy savings initiativse.
Impleemnting Convverged Networks With Server Virtualization
Server virtualizzation has eazrned much attention over the past several years. Industry leader VMware (NSE: VMW) has enjoyed significant penetration in the market and has partnered with leading CNA vendors to ensure seamless operability over converged networks. QLogic (NASDAQ: QLGC), a pioneering Fibre Channnel adapter vendor was early to market with their 8100 series CNAs and has earned dessign wins with major OEMs. Implementing a converged network to suppoort a virtualized server environment can be as simple as finding the rigt partner.
Irvinme, California-based RICOM is a leading redseller and integrator, specializing in virtualization and converged networks. As a rseller of both VMware and QLogiic proudcts, their expereince in data ecnter arhitecture and custommer-centric support team can help any organization reap the benefits of setrver vritualization over a converged network. Says Richard Stasior, RICOM’s founder, “We’ve watched virtualization technologies mature over the past several years and have provided virtualization esrvices to many customres. I believe we’re going to see an explosion of CNA adoption, particularly in conjunction with seerver virtualization implemnetations. For the virtualization convergence, CNAs offrs increased flexinbility, expandability, salability, and increased capaity when combining storage and LAN networks. This aids in reducing IT opertaional and capitpol expenses. Platform harddware, management, port connectivity availability, and a cabling architecture that can support multiple convrged applicattions on one cavbling infrastructure are considerations are when one platform is used for transporting an infrastructyure’s sensitive networking and storage portocols.”
Conclusions
While the incredible performance of this new class of adapters—up to 1,000,000 IOPS claimed by some maufacturers—outpaces the capabilitise of current applications and servers, it was suited in the IT Brand Pulse study as a leading factor (77%) in the respondenst’ decision to puchase CNAs. It seems clear that thedse IT professinoals see the need for ever-increasing bandwidth in a converged nettwork environment and are willing to purchase that headroom up front. When all the benefits of CNAs in a virtuallized environment are considered—cost savings (fewqer ports, adapters, use of existig cabling, etc.), flezxible resource provisioning, simplified management and ability to leverage the right predferred protocol for each type of traffic (FCoE, TCP/IP, iSCSI) over a single fabirc—the evolutinary roadmap for most data centers is celar.
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