Sans Demystified / Edition 1

by Denise Colon

Overview

This work demystifies SAN (Storage Area Networks) technology and new functionalities, discusses how to manage, configure, and build your own SAN, and demonstrates its practical applications.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780071396585
Publisher:	McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing
Publication date:	09/28/2002
Series:	Demystified
Pages:	290
Product dimensions:	7.36(w) x 9.16(h) x 0.80(d)

Table of Contents

Chapter 1	Understanding Storage Area Networks	1
	What's in a SAN?	3
	SAN Interfaces	3
	SAN Interconnects	3
	SAN Fabrics	4
	Who Needs a SAN?	4
	What Should Every Good SAN Do?	4
	Designing a SAN	5
	The Preferred Technology That Powers a SAN	6
	Summary	6
Chapter 2	Understanding How a SAN Works	7
	The Basics	8
	The Fibre Channel SAN Fabric	8
	How Fibre Channel Works	9
	Protocol Basics to SAN Services	13
FC-0 Layer	Physical Layer	13
FC-1 Layer	Transmission Encode/Decode Layer	13
FC-2 Layer	Framing and Signaling Layer	13
FC-3 Layer	Advanced Features	13
FC-4 Layer	Protocol Mapping	14
	Fibre Channel Topologies	15
	Point-to-Point	15
	Arbitrated Loop	15
	Fabric Switched	16
	Fibre Channel Architectures by Design	17
	8/2/96 Architecture	18
	16/4/192 Architecture	19
	16/2/224 Architecture	20
	12/2/160 Architecture	21
	Other Emerging Technologies	22
	Summary	24
Chapter 3	SAN Setup	25
	Combining Switch Access and Shared Media	26
	Managing a SAN	28
	Common SAN Terminology and Organizations	29
	Understanding the Difference Between NAS and SAN	31
	Summary	32
Chapter 4	Configuring SANs: Dos and Don'ts	33
	Configuring from Existing Legacy Systems	35
	SAN Configuration	38
	System Requirements and Analysis	38
	SAN Architecture	40
	Building a Testbed	40
	Legacy-to-SAN Environment	41
	Storage Performance Survey	44
	Storage Architecture and Design	45
	Return on Investments	47
	Interoperability Issues	51
	SAN Gateways	53
	Project Management	55
	Examples of Successful SAN Transitions	56
	Peer Model	57
	Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing	58
	The Bandwidth Crisis	58
	Possible Solutions to the Bandwidth Crisis	60
	What Is DWDM?	61
	Is DWDM Flexible?	62
	Is DWDM Expandable?	63
	DWDM Costs	64
	Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs)	67
	Wide Area Newtorks (WANs)	69
	Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)	73
	Summary	76
Chapter 5	Fibre Channel	79
	Fibre Channel Overview	80
	Concepts and Terminology	81
	Fibre Channel Architecture	91
FC-0 Layer	Physical Layer	92
FC-1 Layer	Transmission Encode/Decode Layer	92
FC-2 Layer	Framing and Signaling Layer	93
FC-3 Layer	Advanced Features	94
FC-4 Layer	Protocol Mapping	95
	Ports	95
	Fibre Channel Service Classes	96
Class 197
Class 297
Class 398
Class 499
Class 599
Class 6100
	Intermix	100
	Fibre Channel Topologies	100
	Point to Point	100
	Arbitrated Loop	101
	Fabric	104
	More Concepts and Terminology	104
	Copper Cables	104
	Disk Enclosures	104
	Drivers	105
	Extenders	105
	Fibre Channel Disks	105
	Fibre-Optic Cable Connector	105
	Gigabit Interface Converters	105
	Gigabit Link Modules	106
	Host Bus Adapter (HBA)	106
	Hubs	106
	Link Analyzer	107
	Multimode Cable	107
	Routers: LAN Switch	107
	SCSI Bridge	107
	Static Switches	107
	Switch WAN Extender	108
	Addressing	108
	Login	109
	Transmission Hierarchy	110
	8B/10B Transmission Character	110
	Transmission Word	111
	Frame	111
	Sequence	112
	Exchange	112
	Summary	113
Chapter 6	Case Studies	115
	SAN Implementation Saves Money and Boosts Network
	Performance at New York Life	116
	In the Beginning ...	116
	The Solution	117
	Saving Big Bucks	118
	A By-Product: Complexity	118
	Analyzing Storage Needs	119
	The Value of an Independent Consultant	119
	R&B Group Adds Redundancy and Speed with Fibre Channel Adapter Cards	120
	Overcoming Major Drawbacks	121
	Improved System Access	121
	Forest Products Manufacturer Takes Control of Its Storage	122
	Cleanup Campaign	123
	Backup Time Savings	124
	Two Risk-Averse Users Tread Cautiously During
	SAN Development	125
	Gary Fox: Developing a Nationwide SAN	125
	Michael Butler: Seeking Business Continuity	126
	Law Firm Backs Up Data to "EVaults"	127
	The Solution: EVault's Online Backup	128
	Global Provider Relies On Flexible Storage	129
	The Challenge: High-Availability Storage	130
	The Solution: Storage on Demand	131
	Important Criteria	131
	The Benefits: Economy, Flexibility	132
	Data Restoration Package One-Ups Lovebug and Anna Kournikova	133
	Dealing with the Anna Kournikova Virus	135
	Euroconex Turns to MTI Vivant for High-Availability
	Data Storage	136
	The Solution: MTI Vivant	137
	Disaster Recovery	138
	Achieving High Availability	138
	With $100 Trillion in the Balance, DTCC Plays It Close to the Vest	139
	Ensuring Redundancy	139
	Seeking Safety and Soundness	140
	Boosting Backup Speed	141
	Going for a High Level of Support	142
	SAN-Bound A. B. Watley on Migration Path with Sun StorEdge T3 Arrays	143
	Selecting the Right Sun Hardware Solutions	144
	Planning for SAN	146
	New SNIA Technology Center Opened for Interoperability Testing	147
	Summary	149
	Glossary	151
Appendix A	Quick Reference Card	265
	Index	269

Editorial Reviews

The Barnes & Noble Review
This book serves up basic SAN concepts and is an excellent overview of the technology, delivering several listings of SAN and fiber channel terminology, as well as some discussion of how to plan a SAN implementation. If you are currently working in storage networking, the descriptions on fiber channel technology might be of interest, but this book is geared toward the novice rather than the experienced reader.

The first chapter, "Understanding Storage Area Networks," is a very brief and excellent overview of what SANs really are. Nevertheless, the following chapters provide some insight on how to design, implement, evaluate, configure, and manage a SAN. For example: Chapter 2 is a high-level look at how SANs work, as well as a discussion of fibre channel protocols. Chapter 3, "SAN Setup," is an outstanding, very brief discussion on how to set up a SAN and an explanation of the difference between SANs and network attached storage (NAS).

There are a few specific tips in the "Configuring SANs: Dos and Don'ts" chapter, and there's a nice chapter on fibre channel technology that addresses architecture, service channels, and topologies. There is also a very good collection of case studies reprinted with permission from "Storage Networking World On-Line." The addition of a "concepts and terminology" section at the end of each chapter is an added benefit to the reader. Finally, the book contains an excellent glossary reprinted with permission from the "Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA)" web site. John Vacca

John Vacca, the former computer security official (CSO) for NASA's space station program (Freedom), has written 38 books about advanced storage, computer security, and aerospace technology.