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Enhancing the Dell iSCSI SAN with Dell PowerVault
TM
Tape Libraries and Chelsio Unified Storage Router
iSCSI Appliance
3.0 Integrating the Chelsio USR into a Dell Solution
Dell’s iSCSI strategy is to ensure customers have an end-to-end iSCSI solution. By implementing the
Chelsio USR SAS-to-iSCSI appliance with Dell PowerVault tape, a customer can integrate these devices
effortlessly into an existing iSCSI SAN containing other Dell iSCSI storage products, such as the
PowerVault MD, EqualLogic PS, and Compellent array.
Dell and Chelsio performed extensive testing to ensure that both the Chelsio USR and Dell PowerVault
meet our customer’s high expectations. The Chelsio USR was tested with the Dell PowerVault TL2000,
PowerVault TL4000, and PowerVault ML6000 in both 1Gb and 10Gb iSCSI environments with other Dell
iSCSI storage devices, switches, and various PowerEdge servers.
A reference configuration with an end-to-end iSCSI data protection solution including disk storage being
archived to tape is illustrated in Figure 8. The Chelsio USR was connected to both a PowerVault ML6000
and PowerVault TL2000/TL4000 through 6Gb SAS. The Chelsio USR was then connected into the iSCSI
SAN through a PowerConnect 8024F switch using SFP+ TwinAx cables. A PowerEdge R810 with a
Broadcom NetExtreme 57111 10GbE SFP+ NIC was connected using SFP+ TwinAx cables to a
PowerConnect 8024F switch. Finally, the PowerVault MD, EqualLogic PS, and Compellent Storage Center
arrays were connected to the 8024F to provide the data storage needs for the testing.
Figure 8 - Chelsio USR Reference Test Architecture
Red Hat Linux and SLES initiators were both tested, however, in this specific configuration, Microsoft
Windows 2008 R2 was installed on the R810 and the Microsoft iSCSI software initiator was used.