NetApp - SANbytes

Two Observations from CiscoLive - FlexPod and FCoE

Having just returned from CiscoLive in Las Vegas, I wanted to list a couple of my impressions.

First, interest in the NetApp-Cisco FlexPod solution is extremely high. The value proposition is resonating and I had many conversations at both the Cisco and NetApp booths, as well as the Intel booth where I presented twice on the topic of FlexPod. The awareness is still growing. But, the interest level in the joint solution developed between the two companies was very high and many attendees presented themselves as either existing customers or soon to be new customers. FlexPod offers significant value over competing solutions and that message really resonated with those I had the chance to discuss the solution.

Second, interest level in FCoE was also high. And I think that plays to the increased popularity and rapid adoption of the Cisco UCS solution with this audience. Cisco UCS is built on a 10Gb Ethernet network infrastructure with support for FCoE. I don’t know if there is a chicken and egg thing going on here, whether UCS is driving FCoE/10GbE or whether FCoE/10GbE is driving interest in UCS. But, both are enjoying increased consideration. Not all customers of UCS will deploy FCoE. NFS is gaining in popularity for VMware applications and iSCSI is also quite suitable for applications requiring block level access, such as Exchange, Sharepoint, or even enterprise database applications. Regardless of which protocol you decide to deploy, 10Gb Ethernet offers many options to properly optimize your storage network environment.

With the value that NetApp and Cisco provide to their customers, coupled with other technology partners, such as Microsoft, Intel, VMware, SAP and Citrix, among others, FlexPod should see increased adoption. And converged networks with FCoE provide the capabilities to increase data center efficiency through consolidation of network assets.

Feel free to share your opinion about either observation.

Jason Blosil

 

NetApp at CiscoLive 2011 in Vegas

NetApp is a Gold Sponsor at CiscoLive 2011 in Vegas this year, http://www.ciscolive.com/us/index.php?zid=header-logo. We have all kinds of activities going on and I encourage you to stop by our booth, #939, if you are attending.

Additionally, I’ll be speaking at the Intel booth, #1249, on the topic FlexPod™ Data Center Solution From NetApp and Cisco.



I have a couple of speaking slots:

Tuesday, 7/12 at 3:30pm

Wednesday, 7/13 at 4:30pm

Come learn about the value of the NetApp/Cisco FlexPod solutions and then head on over to our booth for demos and other detailed information from our other experts.

Jason Blosil

 

Storage Interface Speed Roadmap

History of Interface Speeds

• FC — 1.0Gb/s in 1997, 2.0Gb/s in 2001, 4.0Gb/s in 2005, 8.0Gb/s in 2008, 10.0Gb/s (ISL only) 2004
• FCoE — 10.0Gb/s in 2009.
     (FC-BB-5 was approved in June 2009, INCITS 462-2010 was approved in Spring 2010)
• IB — 10.0Gb/s in 2002, 20.0Gb/s in 2005, 40.0Gb/s in 2008
• iSCSI — 1.0Gb/s in 2003, 10.0Gb/s in 2007
• SAS — 3.0Gb/s in 2005, 6.0Gb/s in 2009
• SATA — 1.5Gb/s in 2003, 3.0Gb/s in 2005, 6.0Gb/s in 2010 

Speed Roadmaps

 Fibre Channel (FC)

• 16Gb/s ecosystem starts Q4 2011 with switch and HBA support. The 16Gb Fibre Channel specification, FC-PI-5 was completed on September 28, 2010. 16Gb FC will be backward compatible with 8Gb and 4Gb FC. 32Gb/s market availability targeted for 2014.

 Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE)

• Follows the Ethernet roadmap. 40Gb/s is a few years away, possibly in the same time period as 32Gb FC. The IEEE 802.3ba 40Gb/s and 100Gb/s Ethernet standards were ratified in June 2010.

 InfiniBand (IB)

• 56Gb/s in late 2011, 100Gb/s in 2013.

 iSCSI

• Follows Ethernet roadmap (see FCoE roadmap above).

 SAS

• 12Gb/s in 2012-2013.

Sources:  FCIA, Demartek

Mike McNamara

Demartek iSCSI Deployment Guide 2011

The Demartek lab in Arvada, Colorado put together a very detailed iSCSI configuration guide.  The guide provides useful information about iSCSI from host initiators to networking to storage.   Practical guidance is provided for planning and deploying iSCSI technology and products, and specific vendor products are discussed, including NetApp storage which was used in the testing.

 Some best practices that were suggested for deploying iSCSI include:

 Networking:

• Deploy iSCSI on gigabit or faster networks
• Using server-class network adapters for iSCSI traffic
  • Enable RSS, stateless offload and other server-class network adapter features
• Use one-way or mutual CHAP to increase the security between iSCSI initiators and targets
• Segregate iSCSI storage traffic from regular LAN traffic
  • This may not be required on 10Gb networks for performance reasons, but good for security reasons
• Use non-blocking switches for iSCSI storage traffic
• Disable unicast storm control on iSCSI ports. Most switches have unicast storm control disabled by default.
• Unbind or disable File and Print Sharing protocols on the adapters dedicated to iSCSI traffic

Applications

• Microsoft Exchange Server and SQL Server support the use of iSCSI storage in cluster and non-cluster configurations
  • Follow the usual storage guidelines for separating database disk volumes from log disk volumes

Multi-Path I/O

• Use MPIO to provide load balancing and failover capabilities
• For high-availability enterprise environments, configure redundant adapters and switches for iSCSI traffic, similar to high availability Fibre Channel storage environments

The detailed configuration guide is available here: http://www.demartek.com/Reports_Free/Demartek_iSCSI_Deployment_Guide_2011-05.pdf

Here is a video of the Microsoft iSCSI Initiator from the perspective of a ten-year old girl in the Demartek lab.  A NetApp storage system was used. http://www.youtube.com/Demartek#p/a/u/1/Abhmaemzi5Y

 Mike McNamara

Improving Battlefield Intelligence

The market for full-motion video and digital video surveillance is growing fast and driven largely by government demand. Full-motion video data, which is gathered from unmanned vehicles and satellites, provides mission-critical information that enables better decision-making in environments in which every second counts. Agencies that span both strategic and tactical roles need better tools that collect, analyze, and share full-motion video (FMV).  

To address this growing market, NetApp recently announced a Full-Motion Video Storage Solution built on the E-Series Platform, enabling government agencies to more effectively take advantage of full-motion video.  The solution leverages the new NetApp E5400 and is combined with the StorNext data management solution from Quantum.  The E5400 is purpose-built storage for big-bandwidth datasets that require very high sequential throughput (up to 6GB/sec of sustained bandwidth, (16) 8Gb FC on board I/O) in a dense form factor (dual controllers and 120TB of raw capacity in 4U).

Mike McNamara

Intel Cloud Builders & NetApp

Many companies are moving toward a unified cloud computing model that enables IT consolidation and the potential for massive cost savings. In this two minute video produced by Intel, learn how NetApp helps customers build this unified shared IT infrastructure and the importance of a strong ecosystem. View the video:  http://www.youtube.com/user/netapptv#p/c/0/YqO_eI3d-5A

MIke McNamara

NetApp Presence at Interop

Las Vegas will be hopping next week as more than one tech industry show comes to town. I will be attending Interop and will split my time between the Ethernet Alliance booth and also as a guest at the Extreme Networks booth.

NetApp is a board member of the Ethernet Alliance, a consortium of technology vendors focused on advancing Ethernet based solutions. Member companies work together to prove out Ethernet technologies through plug-fests and other demonstrations and then promote the associated value and use cases. Attending trade shows is one way for member companies to come together and market the virtues of Ethernet solutions. At this year's show, NetApp will be part of a static display showing our FAS3200 series storage array. Additionally, a live demonstration of HPC applications, Ethernet storage applications and 10GBase-T functionality will be presented by other member companies. Stop by booth #2358 for more information. 

Recenly, NetApp has worked with Extreme Networks and Intel to evaluate the capabilities of Extreme Networks' ClearFlow technology. ClearFlow is a proprietary switch technology that isolates iSCSI traffic from other IP traffic streams to deliver improved iSCSI performance during periods of heavy network congestion. ClearFlow doesn't require any special equipment at the server or storage. Just standard Ethernet. And the results are pretty compelling. Check out the live demo by stopping by the Extreme Networks booth where they will demonstrate ClearFlow capabilities with Intel and NetApp.

You can learn more about ClearFlow and the results of the collaborative testing with Intel and NetApp by reading this joint whitepaper, "High-Performance iSCSI SAN Architecture—A Solution’s View from Extreme Networks, Intel and NetApp". Also, be on the look out for a joint configuration guide and an upcoming webinar on the same topic. 

See you in Vegas.

Jason Blosil

Technology Lab Validation by Taneja Group on NetApp SAN Efficiency

The Taneja Group in a lab validation exercise examined the architecture of NetApp FAS storage and the various efficiency-enhancing optimization technologies.  They walked through a series of hands-on tests, using VMware ESXi virtualized Microsoft Exchange, to call out where they saw efficiency gains happening in the real world, and how efficiency turns into storage capability.

High-level findings from Taneja:

• “NetApp proved a competent platfom for optimizing our storage interactions in terms of both capacity and performance.  During testing, we switched capacity on and off, pushed a limited set of drive spindles to the saturation of their performance, and then put into place other performance optimization tools like NetApp's Flash Cache.  NetApp proved to us that they have the right underpinnings to make all of these technologies perform efficiently and with full data integrity, even while we were pushing an abusive set of IO - including multiprotocol storage behind virtual desktops, Microsoft Exchange, multiple instances of IO Meter, and more.”
• “Moreover, that architecture is the foundation for every NetApp feature and capability that we reviewed in our hands-on evaluation, from deduplication that optimizes disk use, cache use, and WAN bandwidth use, to the unified and virtualized coexistence of many storage protocols and volumes on a single system that is managed by a sophisticated full storage lifecycle automation.”

To read or download the full detailed report, click here.

Mike McNamara 

 

What does All Wheel Drive have to do with Unified Storage?

As a 20 year old young man, I was living in the Dominican Republic serving as a missionary for my church. I remember walking the streets of a small town outside of Santiago and noticed an old Datsun sedan drive by with a spoiler bolted on the trunk lid made of PVC pipe and a cross panel made of wood or some other plastic material. In the rear window was placed white nylon tape spelling the characters “4x4”. I chuckled a bit at the crafty spoiler and also because I knew the car didn’t support all wheel drive. My companion, a native of the country, asked me what was so funny. After I explained the meaning of “4x4”, he burst out laughing recognizing that the owner was communicating something he/she probably didn't understand. A two-wheel drive vehicle doesn't support all-wheel drive, even when a "4x4" label is applied.

We’ve seen similar efforts by storage vendors labeling their products “Unified” in hopes of convincing customers that their products offer that benefit. After years of discounting the value of Unified Storage, EMC introduced Celerra “Unified Storage” in 2009, a storage solution essentially consisting of a NAS head along with a Clariion SAN storage backend with separate management tools bolted together as a single solution. They refreshed the product last January adding a common management GUI with a new bezel and brand name, VNX.

Last week we witnessed a similar event with the introduction of Dell’s “Unified Storage” solution, the NX3500. Dell has integrated its Exanet file system into its PowerVault storage system. Only, it isn’t really that integrated. The NX3500 NAS head runs on separate hardware from its partner iSCSI system, the PowerVault MD3x00i. Each unit is managed by separate management utilities. They have some integration points, which you would expect for any product sold as a single solution. But, to call it Unified is a stretch.

HP is now trying to position "Coverged Storage" as the answer to Unified Storage. The idea, as I understand it, is that you can buy a bunch of point products that are all managed by a single management layer. This common management approach is definitely helpful for the problem they are trying to address. But, I don't get why it is a better solution. The ice cream reference in the article is right up my alley. I love ice cream. But, if I wanted more than one flavor, I don't want to have to handle or manage several flavors with a bunch of individual cones. Isn't it easier to use a single cone (or cup) to serve more than one flavor? I guess if I don't want to mix my flavors, this is a good solution. But, in the case of storage management, it means I can't share the storage pool and therefore have a less inefficient solution. To use a car analogy, "We don't have the product you want, but we can sell you three cars for more money. But, you can open all the doors with the same key." How's that for a deal? 

It's great to see more companies promoting Unified Storage products. But, slapping a label on a product doesn’t always indicate what’s underneath the sheet metal. NetApp defined the unified storage market in 2002 when it introduced the first open storage solution with support for file and block protocols in the same system. Later in 2005, NetApp added Fibre Channel protocol support to its leading Ethernet storage products and coined the term, Unified Storage. In 2010, NetApp introduced Unified Connect, with support for FCoE, iSCSI, NFS, and CIFS protocol support over a shared 10GbE port. At the time of this post, no other vendor can offer this level of functionality. The business value for Unified Connect includes reduced cabling and complexity and improved network management and bandwidth utilization. 

What allows NetApp to deliver this added value is Data ONTAP, the operating system platform for all NetApp FAS and V-Series storage systems. Data ONTAP offers a unified data management platform that consistent treatment of your data, regardless of protocol or workload. Features such as thin provisioning, deduplication, thin clones, snapshots, backup and recovery, and disaster recovery are available on any data type and are all managed with a common set of management utilities. This single OS approach scales from the entry to the high end, primary to secondary storage, and from TBs to PBs of storage, allowing you to grow your infrastructure without incurring the added capital and operational costs associated with specialized point products, processes, and IT skill sets.

With well over 150,000 units sold, NetApp continues to lead the market in Unified Storage. The efforts of other vendors to position their products as Unified validates our vision and confirms what customers are looking for, an easy to manage, efficient and flexible, shared storage infrastructure. You will be hearing more in the coming months how NetApp Unified Storage solutions can increase the operational efficiency of your IT operations while offering the flexibility to increase the capabilities of your core business. 

Check out the featured content here (right side panel) to learn more about Unified Storage from experts at Gartner along with Jay Kidd from NetApp.

Jason Blosil

 

SNIA ESF sponsored web event with Dennis Martin - April 2011

One of my activities at NetApp includes industry association participation. In addition to the Ethernet Alliance, I also co-chair the SNIA Ethernet Storage Forum iSCSI SIG. In cooperation with other industry leaders, the ESF has developed a marketing plan for 2011 that should prove to be very educational, with guest speakers who are experts in their field. For April, I'll be hosting a live SNIA ESF sponsored webcast and we have invited Dennis Martin, President of Demartek as our guest. Dennis is an expert in storage related topics and is working on a project to demonstrate in depth best practices for deploying iSCSI solutions. He has agreed to present some of his findings and expertise. A live Q&A will also be included. It doesn’t matter if you have a large, medium or small environment, Dennis will provide application specific recommendations that you won’t want to miss.

When: April 21^st

Time: 8:00 am PT / 11:00 am ET

Free registration: http://www.brighttalk.com/webcast/26785

The SNIA ESF has several other web events planned for the rest of this calendar year.  Should be a good year for SNIA ESF educational topics. In the next few months we will also be presenting on the following topics:

- IP Protocols in Virtual Environments

- Deploying Clouds with iSCSI and NFS4

- FCoE Coexistence with iSCSI

I'd love to hear from you what other topics would be interesting. We have experts from many of the industry leaders who are contributing to these educational discussions. Submit some ideas related to Ethernet storage that you would like to have discussed in the comments below. 

Jason Blosil