Transparent SCSI Routing Overview, 1-10

Chapter 1 Before Configuring SN 5428-2 Storage Router Software

Transparent SCSI Routing Overview

Transparent SCSI routing provides IP hosts with access to intelligent storage arrays as if each storage array were directly attached to the hosts, with access to the storage devices managed primarily in each storage array. The SN 5428-2 transparently presents each IP host to the storage array as if each host were an FC host.

Typically, transparent SCSI routing is used with an intelligent storage array that is directly connected to the SN 5428-2 Fibre Channel interface. Managing access to storage devices consists of using configuration tools available with an intelligent storage array (to configure, for example, which hosts are granted access and to configure multiple paths between hosts and storage devices). With transparent SCSI routing, an intelligent storage array can manage each IP host as if it were directly attached to the array as an FC host.

Transparent SCSI routing automatically creates iSCSI targets and maps them to physical targets available in the intelligent storage array. The storage router presents the iSCSI targets to IP hosts as if the physical targets were directly attached to the hosts. In conjunction with presenting iSCSI targets to hosts, transparent SCSI routing presents each IP host as an FC host to the intelligent storage array. The intelligent storage array is aware of each IP host and responds to each IP host as if it were an FC host connected to the storage array. (See Figure 1-9.) Transparent SCSI routing can present no more than 62 IP hosts as FC hosts to an intelligent storage array.

Figure 1-9 Transparent SCSI Routing Overview

IP hosts

Cisco SN 5428-2

An IP host accesses

a target made available by a storage array as if the IP host were an FC host directly attached to the storage array.

Intelligent storage

array

85727

To configure an SN 5428-2 Storage Router that is deployed for transparent SCSI routing, you should have a basic understanding of the following concepts:

•Routing SCSI Requests and Responses, page 1-11

•Basic Network Structure, page 1-12

•Transparent SCSI Routing Mapping and Access Control, page 1-12

•Available Instances of Transparent SCSI Routing, page 1-15

Cisco SN 5428-2 Storage Router Software Configuration Guide

1-10	OL-4691-01

Cisco Systems SN 5428-2 Transparent SCSI Routing Overview, 1-10, Basic Network Structure, page

Models: SN 5428-2