Bosch Appliances 1200 software manual System Overview, ISCSI Overview, ISCSI Network Components

1200 and 1400 Series iSCSI Disk ArraysSystem Overview en 19

2	System Overview
	With the Microsoft iSCSI Software Target in Windows Storage Server 2008, you can create
	and manage iSCSI targets, create and manage virtual disks for storage, and implement backup
	and recovery support by using snapshots.
	Note
	The Microsoft iSCSI Software Target is pre installed and pre configured on all Bosch DLA
	models. If it is not installed or provided together with your storage appliance, contact your
	storage appliance manufacturer for information about acquiring the Microsoft iSCSI Software
	Target.
2.1	iSCSI Overview
	Several protocols, such as ATA (SATA) and SCSI (SAS), are available for enabling a disk
	controller to communicate with disk drives. These protocols are predefined standards that
	determine how commands, such as read and write requests, are packaged and sent between
	the controller and disk drive. The iSCSI protocol extends the SCSI standards by encapsulating
	SCSI commands in TCP/IP packets. These commands are sent over a TCP/IP network, which
	enables servers to access storage on a storage area network (SAN). This facilitates
	implementation and centralized management of consolidated storage, including centralized
	backup and remote system recovery.
2.1.1	iSCSI Network Components
	In an iSCSI network, there are three components:
	–	iSCSI target
	The iSCSI target provides storage, similar to the disk drives of locally attached storage, but
	accessed over a network instead of locally. This functionality is provided in Windows Storage
	Server 2008 by the Microsoft iSCSI Software Target.
	–	iSCSI initiator
	The iSCSI initiator is sometimes referred to as the client. The iSCSI target provides the
	storage to the iSCSI initiator, which acts as a disk controller for the disks that are hosted by
	the target.
	–	Storage fabric
	This is an Internet Protocol (IP)-based network that connects the iSCSI target to the iSCSI
	initiator. The storage fabric is typically a gigabit local area network (LAN).
2.1.2	Microsoft iSCSI Software Target Components
	The Microsoft iSCSI Software Target package comprises three components:
	– Microsoft iSCSI Software Target – This component lets you create and manage virtual
		disks, create and manage iSCSI targets, and provide backup and recovery of iSCSI

targets through snapshots.

– Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) Hardware Provider – The VSS Hardware Provider is installed on the initiator computer and works with the VSS service to provide application consistent snapshots of iSCSI virtual disks on the computer that runs the Microsoft iSCSI Software Target.

– Virtual Disk Service (VDS) Hardware Provider – The VDS Hardware Provider is installed on an initiator computer and lets VDS-aware applications manage virtual disks on a storage appliance running the Microsoft iSCSI Software Target.

Bosch Sicherheitssysteme GmbH Software Manual Doc V1 2010.09