Feature Brief

Storage Center Data Center Bridging iSCSI over DCB for improved reliability and performance

Data Center Bridging (DCB) is a set of networking standards while improving manageability. 10GbE networks that leverage that were originally created to ensure lossless delivery of Fibre DCB ensure that iSCSI performance within the network is not Channel (FC) traffic from hosts to FC or impacted when combined with other traffic. While legacy best over Ethernet (FCoE) native storage targets. Over recent years, practices had you improve performance by separating traffic this technology has been extended to deliver similar benefits onto different physical network segments, DCB converges for iSCSI storage solutions and continues to gain acceptance traffic onto a single 10GbE segment. DCB prioritizes traffic with storage networking device manufacturers and customers. classes and bandwidth allocation for consistent, predictable SAN performance. For example, you can configure the iSCSI DCB extends reliability within the network infrastructure by storage traffic to have a higher bandwidth percentage than web eliminating , and improving data networking and traffic — allocating 60% of bandwidth to iSCSI storage traffic management. DCB features include: and 40% to web traffic — ensuring reliability and performance • Priority-based flow control (IEEE 802.1Qbb) within the converged space. • Enhanced transmission selection (IEEE 802.1Qaz) DCB requirements mandate end-to-end DCB capable devices • iSCSI application priority tagging (leveraging IEEE 802.1p to take advantage of DCB’s lossless nature and bandwidth CoS features) allocation capabilities within the SAN. For a complete listing of • Discovery, configuration and mismatch resolution by all Ethernet switches and CNAs validated for DCB compliance introducing extensions to LLDP with Storage SC Series storage controllers, see the Dell Storage Compatibility Matrix. Through the use of traffic class prioritization and bandwidth allocation policy-maps within a DCB-enabled network, For best practices using iSCSI over DCB in SCOS 7 on a Dell predictable (SAN) performance is possible. Storage SC Series SAN, refer to iSCSI DCB with Dell SC Series Arrays using Storage Center OS 7.0 and iSCSI DCB with Dell SC By upgrading from 1GbE to 10GbE, you can consolidate Series Arrays using Storage Center OS 7.0 Video. network and storage traffic to a single segment, reducing costs

Converged traffic through DCB Highlights • Lossless traffic iSCSI traffic • Priority flow control (IEEE 802.1Qbb) • Enhanced transmission selection • Convergence (IEEE 802.1Qaz)

• iSCSI application priority tagging Application traffic • Priortity-based flow control (IEEE 802.1p CoS)

Database traffic • Discovery, configuration and mismatch • Enhanced transmission selection resolution using LLDP Management traffic • Congestion notification

Learn More at Dell.com/SCSeries.

©2016 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. Dell and DELL logo are trademarks of Dell Inc. Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Dell disclaims proprietary interest in the marks and names of others. This document is for informational purposes only. Dell reserves the right to make changes without further notice to any products herein. The content provided is as is and without express or implied warranties of any kind. Leasing and financing provided and serviced by Dell Financial Services L.L.C. or its affiliate or designee (“DFS”) for qualified customers. Offers may not be available or may vary in certain countries. Where available, offers may be changed without notice and are subject to product availability, credit approval, execution of documentation provided by and acceptable to DFS, and may be subject to minimum transaction size. Offers not available for personal, family or household use. FB_SC_Data_Center_Bridging_071416