Storage area networks (SANs) based on IP have emerged as compelling alternatives to traditional Fibre Channel-based solutions. The iSCSI protocol, despite a slow start, is now widely supported by industry-leading technology companies, including Microsoft and Cisco, as well as the IETF standards committee. Today, all major operating systems, including Windows and Linux, support iSCSI.

• Compatibility: IP networks are more compatible and interoperable across different vendors of switches and network interface cards than are Fibre Channel networks.

• Affordability: Gigabit Ethernet equipment is significantly less expensive, with Gigabit Ethernet NICs approximately 1/ 8 th the cost of Fibre Channel HBAs and Gigabit Ethernet switch ports approximately 90% less expensive than Fibre Channel switch ports.

• Security: iSCSI offers numerous security features not available in Fibre Channel, such as CHAP for server-to-storage authentication, IPSec for storage traffic encryption, and header and data digests for maximizing data integrity.

• High Availability: iSCSI, by using features such as Microsoft’s MPIO in Windows Server 2003, has built-in multi-pathing without requiring additional expensive server-based path management software.

• Management: Since iSCSI storage systems connect using IP, they are compatible with existing network management and monitoring tools from CA, HP, and others without requiring new Fibre Channel-specific management tools.