I’m hearing that more and more of you are asking for technical details on NetApp’s Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) solution. Here’s a few answers to your questions:As you know, FCoE is a new protocol that transports Fibre Channel (FC) frames natively over 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE). NetApp was the first storage vendor to deliver native FCoE storage systems in 2008. More information can be found under PartnerCenter’s Product page (http://partners.netapp.com/mycommunities/PartnerCenter/1047).
Let’s dive deeper into some of these technical items:
TOPOLOGY
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NetApp supports two primary FCoE topologies:
- Mixed FCoE-to-FC topology:
FCoE and DCB from host server connections to the FCoE-enabled switch to existing FC SAN switch infrastructures that connect to NetApp 2Gb and 4Gb FC-enabled storage systems.
- End-to-end FCoE topology (PVR required for FCoE Target Card):
FCoE and DCB from host server connections to the FCoE-enabled switch to PVR-enabled FCoE storage systems.
Remember that the FCoE standard requires the use of switches (no direct host-to-storage connections).
INTEROPERABILITY
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As of January 2009, NetApp has qualified Microsoft Windows Server, VMware ESX, and Red Hat Enterprise Server with Emulex LP2100x and QLogic QLE8042 CNAs with the Cisco Nexus 5000 series switches. This information is subject to change, so don’t forget to use the Interop Matrix:
http://now.netapp.com/NOW/products/interoperability/
In addition, the NetApp Storage System must be a PCIe-capable FAS or V-Series Storage Systems: 3040, 3070, 3100 series, & 6000 series. The FAS2050 is not currently supported with the FCoE Target Card. The FCoE Target Card requires a d-patch for Data ONTAP 7.3.1 (patch not included in mainstream downloads).
LICENSING
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FCoE protocol support in the applicable NetApp storage systems is currently enabled via the FC protocol license. Users with a valid FCP license for the storage system may enable FCoE at no additional cost.
SOFTWARE SUPPORT
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SnapDrive 6.0.1 for Windows is current supported for FCoE configurations, but SnapDrive for UNIX is targeted for future support. Additional management software (such as Operations Manager) to be fully supported at a later date.
Of course you can still provision LUNs manually, so applications (such as Microsoft Exchange, SQL Server, Oracle Database, etc.) run perfectly fine with FCoE storage.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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Feel free to reach out to your NetApp Pre-Sales Engineering Team here at Arrow ECS. We’re here to help!!
