Cisco Systems SN 5428-2 manual FCIP Network Structures, 1-16, 15 FCIP Actions

Chapter 1 Before Configuring SN 5428-2 Storage Router Software

FCIP Overview

Once configured, FCIP instances on each system become active and establish their connectivity via the IP network. The storage devices in one SAN access the storage devices in the connected SAN using FC frames, which are encapsulated in IP packets by the FCIP instance, and transmitted to the peer system. The peer FCIP instance strips the IP packet data and passes only the FC frames over the FC interfaces to the storage devices.

The peer systems deployed for FCIP must be configured to use the same protocol: TCP or raw. TCP protocol uses standard TCP flow control and error recovery algorithms, and should be used if you require

astandards-based FCIP implementation or connect to a non-SN 5428-2 peer, such as the MDS 9000 Series system. Raw protocol uses a proprietary connection protocol, but provides more operational control over flow control and error recovery than standard TCP/IP.

If the selected protocol is TCP, one FCIP instance must be configured as the TCP client; the other FCIP instance must be configured as the TCP server. The only difference between FCIP instances configured as TCP client and TCP server is which FCIP instance initiates the connection: the TCP client initiates the connection.

FCIP transports FC frames between SANs by performing the following actions (Figure 1-15):

•Transporting FC frames between a SAN and an SN 5428-2 that is deployed for FCIP

•Encapsulating FC frames in IP packets and transporting the IP packets to a peer SN 5428-2 or MDS 9000 Series system that is deployed for FCIP

•Receiving IP packets and transporting as FC frames between the peer SN 5428-2 or MDS 9000 Series system and a connected SAN

Note that FC traffic is carried over the IP network in such a way that the FC fabric and all FC devices on the fabric are unaware of the presence of the IP Network.

Figure 1-15 FCIP Actions

FC hosts and

storage devices

SAN

		FC hosts and
SN 5428-2	SN 5428-2	storage devices

IP SAN

Transporting FC frames between SAN and an SN 5428-2 deployed for FCIP.

Encapsulating FC frames in IP packets and transporting IP packets to peer SN 5428-2.

Transporting FC frames between an SN 5428-2 deployed for FCIP and SAN.

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FCIP Network Structures

This section describes typical FCIP network structures. In all of these examples, a management station (not shown) manages the storage routers through an IP network connected to the management interface and/or HA interface of each storage router.

Cisco SN 5428-2 Storage Router Software Configuration Guide

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