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Benefits of Network Convergence and FCoE
The combination of network convergence and FCoE provide the
following key benefits to IT organizations:
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Infrastructure simplification—Network and storage I/O is
converged over a single 10GbE infrastructure that supports
SAN and Local Area Network (LAN) connectivity with common
adapters, switch ports and cables.
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Protection for existing Fibre Channel investments—
FCoE is designed to fully leverage existing Fibre Channel
investments. Deployments begin at the edge of the data
center and storage traffic is routed by a Fibre Channel
forwarding switch into the existing Fibre Channel SAN. Full
interoperability with installed Fibre Channel switches and
arrays means no need to “rip and replace”. Even more critical,
there’s no requirement to move and potentially disrupt access
to data. A common management framework across Fibre
Channel and FCoE connected servers protects existing
investments in management tools and processes and lowers
long-term operating costs.
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Increased IT efficiency and business agility—A converged
network streamlines and eliminates repeated administrative
tasks such as server and network provisioning with a “wire
once” deployment model. The converged network also improves
business agility letting data centers dynamically and rapidly
respond to requests for new or expanded services, new servers
and new configurations.
Emulex OneConnect OCe10102-F FCoE CNA
The Emulex OneConnect OCe10102-F is a single-chip 10GbE
CNA that supports FCoE while leveraging mature Fibre Channel
management tools and processes (see Figure 4). The OCe10102-F
offloads Fibre Channel protocol processing from the CPU,
providing high performance storage connectivity and optimized
CPU utilization. The additional processing power retained by CPUs
provides more CPU bandwidth for enterprise applications and
enables the deployment of more VMs per virtualized server.
Emulex FCoE CNAs leverage ten generations of advanced, field-
proven LightPulse™ Fibre Channel HBA technology, making them
ideal for server I/O consolidation.
Converged Network Deployment Models
The combination of DCB-enabled Ethernet switches and Emulex
CNAs has facilitated the adoption of FCoE and 10GbE as the
converged network fabric.
FCoE switches are typically provisioned at the edge of the
network. They detect Ethernet frames with encapsulated Fibre
Channel frames and supply the Fibre Channel Forwarding function
for communication to the SAN. Fibre Channel frames are routed
over a FC uplink port that can be connected to a Fibre Channel
switch (E-port or NPIV mode) or storage array (F-port)
Ethernet ports on the switch provide connectivity to the LAN.
Deployment Guide: Network Convergence with Emulex
®
OneConnect
™
OCe10102-F FCoE CNA and Windows Server Platform
Figure 4 Emulex OneConnect OCe10102-F FCoE CNA
Figure 5 Converged network deployment and access to SAN