Front cover Introduction to Storage Area Networks Learn the basic SAN components and their use Introduce yourself to SAN benefits Discover the IBM SAN product portfolio Jon Tate Angelo Bernasconi Peter Mescher Fred Scholten ibm.com/redbooks International Technical Support Organization Introduction to Storage Area Networks March 2003 SG24-5470-01 Note: Before using this information and the product it supports, read the information in “Notices” on page xi. Second Edition (March 2003) This edition applies to the software and hardware that is in the IBM TotalStorage portfolio, although it may include descriptions and overviews of products and technology that is not. © Copyright International Business Machines Corporation 1999 2003. All rights reserved. Note to U.S. Government Users Restricted Rights -- Use, duplication or disclosure restricted by GSA ADP Schedule Contract with IBM Corp. Contents Figures . vii Tables . .ix Notices . .xi Trademarks . xii Preface . xiii The team that wrote this redbook. xiii Become a published author . xvi Comments welcome. xvi Chapter 1. Why and what is a SAN? . 1 1.1 The Storage Area Network . 2 1.1.1 Network Attached Storage . 4 1.2 The evolution of storage device connectivity. 4 1.2.1 Server attached storage . 5 1.2.2 Fibre Channel . 5 1.2.3 FICON . 5 1.2.4 SCSI . 6 1.2.5 Ethernet interface . 6 1.3 SAN definition and evolution . 6 1.3.1 Fibre Channel architecture . 7 1.4 SAN components . 11 1.4.1 SAN servers . 11 1.4.2 SAN storage . 11 1.4.3 SAN interconnects . 12 1.4.4 SAN applications. 18 1.4.5 SAN management in general . 20 1.5 Where we were and where we are heading . 21 1.5.1 Server attached storage . 21 1.5.2 Network Attached Storage . 22 1.5.3 Storage Area Networks . 23 1.5.4 Storage virtualization in the SAN . 23 1.6 Standards . 24 1.6.1 The importance of general standards . 24 1.7 Conclusion. 25 Chapter 2. The IBM SAN solution . 27 © Copyright IBM Corp. 1999 2003. All rights reserved. iii 2.1 e-business on demand . 28 2.1.1 Server on demand. 28 2.1.2 Storage on demand. 29 2.1.3 Pervasive computing. 29 2.2 Storage technology trends driving SAN solutions . 29 2.2.1 What is in the SAN today? . 30 2.2.2 SAN standards . 31 2.2.3 IBM and industry standards organizations . 33 2.3 IBM TotalStorage. Connected. Protected. Complete. 34 2.3.1 Connected: Improving data access. 34 2.3.2 Protected: Safeguarding your information. 35 2.3.3 Complete: Providing comprehensive solutions . 35 Chapter 3. SAN servers and storage . 37 3.1 Servers and storage environments . 38 3.1.1 The challenge . 39 3.2 Server environments . 41 3.2.1 zSeries servers . 41 3.2.2 pSeries servers . 42 3.2.3 iSeries servers . 43 3.2.4 xSeries servers . 45 3.3 IBM storage products . 45 3.3.1 Open standards and interoperability . 46 3.4 IBM TotalStorage SAN-attach disk products. 46 3.4.1 IBM TotalStorage Enterprise Storage Server . 46 3.4.2 IBM TotalStorage FAStT Storage Servers . 47 3.5 IBM TotalStorage SAN-attach tape products . 47 3.5.1 IBM TotalStorage Linear Tape Open . 48 3.5.2 IBM TotalStorage Enterprise Tape System 3590 . 49 3.6 Network Attached Storage . 50 Chapter 4. SAN fabrics and connectivity . 53 4.1 The SAN environment . 54 4.1.1 The Storage Area Network . 55 4.2 Fibre Channel . 56 4.2.1 Point-to-point . 56 4.2.2 Loops and hubs for connectivity . 57 4.2.3 Fabrics for scalability, performance, and availability. 59 4.2.4 Switches and directors . 59 4.2.5 Multiple fabric connections . 60 4.2.6 Switched fabric with cascading . 60 4.2.7 Hubs versus switches . 61 4.2.8 Mixed switch and loop topologies . 62 iv Introduction to SAN 4.3 Port types . 62 4.4 Addressing . 65 4.4.1 World Wide Name . 65 4.4.2 Port address . 65 4.4.3 24-bit port addresses . 66 4.4.4 Loop address . 66 4.5 Fabric services . 67 4.5.1 Management service. 67 4.5.2 Time service . 67 4.5.3 Name services . 67 4.5.4 Login service . ..