HP StorageWorks 2/24 FW 07.00.00/HAFM SW 08.06.00 McDATA Products in a SAN Env - Page 204

Implementing SAN Internetworking Solutions 4 iSCSI Server Consolidation Many enterprise-level IT departments have deployed decentralized computing configurations that include low-end, iSCSI-enabled servers directly attached to storage. While server acquisition costs are typically low, licensing and maintenance costs are often very high in terms of dollars and personnel time. The decentralized infrastructure also causes availability and reliability problems. For example: • Many servers quickly run out of peripheral component interconnect (PCI) slots for adding direct-attached disk adapters. In addition, there is no room internal to the server to add hard drives. Therefore, more servers must be purchased. • There is no ability to connect a server with ample disk space to another server with insufficient disk space. Efficient disk utilization is not possible. • The failure rate of inexpensive external disks is high. In addition, server downtime must be planned to perform disk administration. • Administrators work long hours (nights and weekends) to perform server maintenance, system updates, and other critical tasks. This leads to personnel dissatisfaction. Server consolidation addresses cost, time, and availability issues by providing iSCSI-based server connectivity to a Fibre Channel storage fabric. Figure 4-15 illustrates iSCSI server consolidation. Figure 4-15 iSCSI Server Consolidation 4-60 McDATA Products in a SAN Environment - Planning Manual