HP StorageWorks 2/24 FW 07.00.00/HAFM SW 08.06.00 McDATA Products in a SAN Env - Page 27

1 Introduction to McDATA Multi-Protocol Products The enterprise-level storage area network (SAN) of today is typically complex and managed at the device layer. These problems result in SANs that use storage assets inefficiently, and are complex, error prone, expensive, and time-consuming to manage. This chapter describes McDATA® products and SAN management applications that provide Multi-Capable Storage Network Solutions® to enable enterprises to efficiently allocate storage devices to servers on demand, while lowering the cost of storage asset ownership. These solutions: • Consolidate information technology (IT) resources, integrate servers, interconnect remote data centers and branch offices (SAN islands), expand existing Fibre Channel SANs, and implement business continuity and disaster recovery (BC/DR) methods. • Create a robust, reliable, scalable, and cost-effective SAN that provides enterprise-class connectivity and supports Fibre Channel Protocol (FCP) and fibre connection (FICON®) environments. • Simplify and automate SAN management by creating an application-oriented, on-demand data network. These solutions, coupled with McDATA's technical vision, result in greater application availability and SAN performance, thus enabling enterprises to meet their business objectives. Refer to Chapter 4, Implementing SAN Internetworking Solutions for detailed information. Introduction to McDATA Multi-Protocol Products 1-1