FCoE
FCoE stands for Fibre Channel over Ethernet. The idea is to leverage Ethernet (only TCP) for transferring FC Packets. The assumption is that FCoE will run on 10 Gig Ethernet. The project has been proposed in T11 standard body. The FCoE standard is proposed in April 2007 and FCoE products are expected by 2009. The ratified standard may be available by fourth quarter of 2008. Currently there are no products available that supports FCoE in market.
FCoE gets a place inside the IPSAN along with iSCSI, iFCP and FCIP. But FCoE has got its own advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages:
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The existing Ethernet can be leveraged.
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There is mapping between Ethernet Frame and FC frame which means FCoE will be simpler and faster.
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Stripes the overhead of IP.
Disadvantages:
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Inside Ethernet, data loss cant be predicted. But SAN can never accommodate any loss in data. But this can be averted by adopting “Pause Frames” mechanism.
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The assumption on FCoE is to leverage 10 Gig Ethernet which may be off enterprise level.
On the industries front, they are catching up FCoE. There was a demonstration by Qlogic, NetApp and Nuova Systems in SNW using FCoE adapters. Biggies like IBM, EMC, Sun Microsystems, Intel are backing up the idea.
Visit www.fcoe.com to learn more.
