Networked

Storage
Solutions
Sharing
Enterprise Information
and Optimising
Storage Costs

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« As organisations are increasingly confronted

with growing volumes of information to

manage, Networked Storage is becoming the storage

architecture of choice, replacing traditional Direct

server Attached Storage (DAS). Whether the storage

network is LAN or SAN-based, there are many

compelling technical and economic benefits for

information systems of all sizes to improve operational

flexibility, the accessibility of information throughout

the organisation, and to reduce the cost of storage

assets and their management.

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Bull and Networked Storage,
an accessible expertise
Bull has extensive experience in Networked
Storage and has worked closely for many
years with recognised leaders in the
Networked Storage market such as EMC
and Brocade, to integrate, qualify and
commercialise a wide range of Networked
Storage products with Bull’s own server
offer.
This paper reviews the various Networked
Storage technologies and how Bull is able to
respond with scalable and affordable
solutions adapted to heterogeneous server
and storage environment.
This document illustrates this with an example
of a low-cost SAN solution developed for the
Bull Escala family of AIX ™ servers.

Through the development and deployment of

its own Network Storage products Bull has
acquired an in-depth understanding of the
challenges facing organisations, and how to
build solutions adapted to each customers
unique requirements.

Dedicated engineering and service delivery

teams have defined and deployed numerous
Networked Storage solutions throughout
Europe and the world.

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Adapted technologies
For many years, organisations have been facing the challenge of managing rapidly increasing volumes of
electronic data1. Whilst the growth of disk and tape media capacity has largely kept up with demande2, the
ability to scale-up existing data subsystems and to manage the data has not.
This increasing amount of information has
exposed the limitations of traditional Direct
Attached Storage. DAS storage, in the form
of SCSI disks, is initially easy to configure
and integrate as part of a server solution,
but has a number of inherent long-term
problems:
• It can only be accessed by the server to
which it is attached. No data sharing is
possible
• The utilisation of DAS is usually low. No
centralised allocation of storage resources
is possible
• DAS exists as multiple independent pools
of storage, each requiring their own
management
• It is often packaged within server racks.
Expanding existing DAS is usually difficult
• The SCSI technology usually used in DAS
requires the data storage to be physically
close to the servers.
Networked Storage architectures in which
storage resources are de-coupled from the
servers that access them, address some of
these issues.
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In a Storage Network, storage resources
such as disks and tape libraries can be
accessed by all servers connected to the
network. Storage resources can be
allocated from a central pool, increasing
and optimising their utilisation.
Storage management tasks, including
backup, replication, archiving and disaster
recovery support can be implemented at a
storage network level, making processes
simple, coherent and ubiquitous.
A poorly implemented storage network can
potentially introduce new problems of
performance and availability, but
networked storage is now sufficiently mature
and well-understood to make such problems
avoidable.
Storage networks have now become the
storage architecture of choice, providing
interoperability between heterogeneous
server and storage environments, allowing
storage to grow and evolve independently
of the server environment, and improving
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
Today, three different Networked Storage
technologies have emerged – NAS, SAN
and iSCSI – each with their own
characteristics, adapted to particular
storage requirements.
1) Annual worldwide storage demand range : 30-50%.
Source: Horison Information Strategies 2006
2) Annual data growth projection: 60%,
Source: Horison Information Strategies 2006
NAS technology
Network Attached Storage (NAS) is a file-based storage architecture.
The servers and NAS servers communicate over a standard LAN.
NAS is a proven and well-established architecture, ideal for applications that need to share data at a file level,
such as email and web hosting.
Increasingly NAS servers are being used to host other enterprise-level data within databases.

The NAS server contains both disk storage As it is based on familiar technology, NAS
and file system. The servers communicate is fast and simple to install and manage.
with the NAS server using standard Additional NAS resources can be easily
protocols - either NFS (Network File added to the network.
System) or CIFS (Common Internet File
System). Rapidly implemented
With the NAS technology, the storage
resources are directly connected to the
company Ethernet network. As NAS is
Clients
based on a common technology, it can be
rapidly implemented. Additional NAS
resources can be easily added to the
LAN network.
NAS storage solutions offer the advantage
Data Flow Data Flow to rely on the network infrastructure to
easily endow this one with a scalable
storage capacity.

Windows NAS System Unix

Server (Server + Storage) Server

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SAN technology
A Storage Area Network (SAN) is a dedicated, reliable, scalable, high-performance storage network using
a Fibre Channel fabric to interconnect servers and storage devices. SANs have been widely deployed,
particularly by large enterprises as they provide a quality of service unmatched by other Networked
Storage architectures. However, the initial cost and complexity of setting up a SAN, and some limitations
on the maximum of a SAN connection distance (theoretically 10km, but often less in practice), have led to
the development of alternative Networked Storage technologies.

Concerning SAN technology, the resources Scalability

are connected to one another by SCSI
(Small Computer System Interface) type
channels, SSA (Serial Storage
Architecture), ESCON (Enterprise System
Connection), or Fibre Channel. Servers
connect to the Fibre Channel network using
HBAs (Host Bus Adapters). The FC network
itself consists of a number of inter-
connected FC switches. Block-level data is
transported over the SAN between server
and storage devices.
The storage arrays do not appear as
shared volumes on the network. They are
directly accessible in block mode by the
server’s file system.
Each server reaches the disk space on a
SAN array to which he has access as his
own hard drive. Thus the administrator has
to define very precisely the LUN (logical
units) and the zoning, so that a UNIX
server does not reach the same resources
as a Windows server using different file
systems.
Tape
library
Bull StoreWay FDA
Fibre Channel
One of the major advantages of a SAN is
the simplified disk management and the
ability to expand overall disk capacity
formerly devoted to a particular server. The
disk space is almost unlimited and highly
scalable by adding disks or storage arrays
on the SAN. The congregated storage
space optimizes disk management and
simplifies data protection.
Availability
The SAN insures storage redundancy (that
is continuous accessibility to the storage
system in case a failure occurs on one of its
elements) by doubling at least each of the
system’s elements: the servers HBA (Host
Bus Adapter) cards, the switches and the
disks.
Quality of Service (QoS)
It is one of the major arguments of the
SAN. The Ethernet network on which is
based NAS in reality offers no guarantee
that a request sent by a server will be
received and taken into account by the
storage system.
Considering SAN, the switches take care
of this issue and guarantee moreover a
fixed output (400Mb/s per optical fibre).
Businesses with critical applications
requiring a high quality of service will thus
rather choose SAN.

UNIX Storage Area A SAN differs from other storage systems such
Network as NAS (Network attached storage) by a low
level access to storage resources.

FC Switch
LINUX Array1 Array3
logical disks Array2
Raid6 Raid10
Raid50

WINDOWS

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iSCSI technology
Rapidly expanding on the networked storage market, iSCSI (Internet Small Computer System Interface) is a
mature and accessible technology today. iSCSI helps build economic SAN based on the Ethernet infrastructure
to connect the servers with the storage resources; therefore increasing the storage capacity at a lower cost.

To obtain better performances, it can be Lower costs

necessary to dedicate an Ethernet network.
The iSCSI technology offers less
performance than Fibre Channel,
nevertheless the acquisition costs being
smaller; the return on investment is higher.
One of the main assets of iSCSI with regard
to rival technologies is to take advantage of
the existing IP infrastructure. Indeed iSCSI
SAN is merely based on standard IP
equipments: category 5 or 5th cables,
Ethernet switches and network connectors.

Cost reductions take place at different

levels.
iSCSI creates shared storage
The users can connect to several peripherals
on several servers to have more storage
space.
iSCSI takes advantage of the existing IP
infrastructure
This implies a cost reduction, notably on the
equipment upgrades, the training needs for
users and the speed of the deployment.
LAN iSCSI allows long distance data storage
The data can be stored wherever, as long
as an internet access is available, which
increases flexibility.
iSCSI improves performances by allowing
data access at the block level, rather than at
Server Server the file level in regards to NAS.

GbE Switch
(storage)

SAN

iSCSI
Storage

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 Overview of the Network
Escala Essentials SAN The high reliability and integrity of the
solution is assured by the redundancy of all LAN
packs provide a range of its components.
The RAID6 double-parity technology
enables continued operation even in case of
pre-integrated, low-cost
a simultaneous two disk drive failure.
Thanks to its four Fibre Channel ports, the
SAN solutions based on FDA 1500 simplifies the server connectivity
with no need of additional SAN switches,
the latest Bull Power5 particularly in the high availability cluster
configuration.
Escala servers, Bull The FDA 1500 delivers outstanding Bull Escala Server
performance and provides near linear
SoreWay FDA1500 scalability of up to 60 disk drives, thanks to
the fibre and SATA disks connectivity
technologies.
storage and Brocade
Escala Essentials SAN packs provide a Brocade Silkwon switch
Silkworm switches. stand-alone solution, can serve as a starting
block to build a larger SAN environment, or
as a component to integrate within an Fibre Channel
existing SAN environment.

Bull StoreWay FDA 1500

Disk Array

Escala PL250R- L entry-level servers they provide optional innovative

Including a majority of mainframe-inspired
technologies just as Bull’s Escala high-end
servers, the PL250R-L are efficient entry-level
systems at an excellent value price. With
the AIX 5L™ v5.3 operating system,
virtualization and micro-partitionning
features. These features make possible to
optimally exploit resources by enabling
various environments in different partitions
to cohabitate

The PL250R-L system has :

• Two 64-bit POWER5 processors
• Two SCSI disks: one for the installation of the system, one for non-critical data
• A dual Ethernet 10/100/1000 port for connection to the LAN network
• Two Fibre Channel adapters for connection to the SAN (Storage Area Network)
• Two serial ports for potential connection to an HMC
• One DVD-ROM drive for operating system and disk subsystem installation.

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Storage solution
Bull StoreWay FDA1500 Disk Array
Based on the 4 Gb/s FDA (Fibre Disk
Array) technology and completing the
StoreWay solution set, the networked FDA
1500 supports transactional data access,
associated with fibre and SATA disk media
hierarchy. It is ideally suited for e-mail, file
serving and database applications.
The FDA 1500 simplifies SAN (Storage
Area Network) storage consolidation,
thanks to Fibre Channel and cost effective
SATA technologies solutions. Moreover a
double access to the data provides an
optimized data protection as well as load
balancing.
The FDA 1500 offers:
• 4 ports
• RAID6 double-parity
• Up to 4 GB cache
• 4 Gb connectivity to servers
• 18 TB fibre offer or 22.5 TB
mixed fibre channel and SATA
connected storage capacity.
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Switch Brocade SilkWorm200E
The SilkWorm 200E provides high
performance with all ports capable of
operating at 1, 2, and 4 Gbit/sec (full
duplex) to enable up to 128 Gbit/sec of
uncongested throughput. Auto-sensing and
speed-matching of data traffic ensures
interoperability with previous 1 and 2
Gbit/sec devices.
The SilkWorm 200E switch is based on the
intelligent Brocade Fabric OS® and offer
advanced software solutions such as
Advanced Zoning and web tools to further
enhance business operations. It also
provides growth options with Ports On
Demand scalability from 8 to 12 or 16
ports in 4-port increments, the ability to add
multiple switches to the SAN, and
enterprise-class functionality that enables its
use as an edge switch in larger SAN
fabrics.
With powerful yet flexible capabilities, such
as Ports On Demand scalability, the
SilkWorm 200E enables organizations to
start small and grow their storage networks
in a non-disruptive manner.
Escala the Essentials SAN Storage Manager pour FDA 1500
From a user-friendly graphical interface the
also offers Storage Manager enables a centralized,
easy and secure management of the FDA
1500.
comprehensive SAN
It provides a proactive administration with
complete inventory, configuration and
management tools monitoring functionalities, with event
notification.
designed and developed Moreover, it includes the FDA Storage
Access Control software which provides a
by Bull to help flexible, intuitive and easy-to-implement data
protection for shared or selective access to
administrators reduce the the FDA 1500, in homogeneous as well as
mixed platform environment. Based on the
number of servers connected to the FDA
complexity of day-to-day
1500, three types of licenses are available:
• Workgroup
SAN management. • Departmental
• Enterprise.
Bull Networked Storage solutions alternatives
Bull offers other available combinations with POWER5
Escala servers and Bull StoreWay FDA or EMC
Clariion disk subsystems, such as the AX150 on AIX™,
which was specifically developed by Bull.
Thanks to the flexibility provided by virtualization, it is
also possible to boot on SAN. With this remote boot
technology the boot disk is on the FDA or the CX,
reducing thus the equipment (attached disk drawers or
internal disks) and maintenance costs.
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Bull StoreWay Multipath for AIX
Bull StoreWay Multipath for AIX is a
software program providing multi-pathing
services between Bull Escala and IBM
pSeries servers running the AIX operating
system, and multi-vendor storage arrays.
Multipath is the critical link between server
and storage environments - it handles all the
difficult stuff like link failures. Bull has in-
depth knowledge of both environments.
Most other Multipathing vendors do not;
they are either server or storage oriented.
As such, solutions integrating Bull Multipath
are better integrated.
Major features of Bull StoreWay Multipath
for AIX include:
• Open architecture capable of supporting
heterogeneous fibre-channel
disk subsystems
• Simple failover and load-balancing (round
-robin) support
• Automatic or manual fail back
• Simple (SCSI2) and persistent (SCSI3)
device reservation support
• User commands for manual fail back and
reservation breaking
• Comprehensive error logging.
A full range of
professional services, from
consultancy to support

Through its long experience of delivering • Servers

Networked Storage solutions throughout Unix, Windows, Linux, GCOS
Europe, and its dedicated teams of certified
storage professionals, Bull is able to provide • -Disk Storage
a wide range of consulting, training, Bull StoreWay FDA
installation and support Networked Storage
services • Tape library
Overland ArcVault et NEO Series.
These services cover a wide range of server Sun StorageTek
and storage technologies developed by Bull
and Bull partners • SAN Infrastructure
Commutateurs Brocade Silkworm
Switches

• Backup software
For more information, on our training Bull OpenSave, Symantec Véritas
offers visit the Bull web site at: NetBackup, EMC NetWorker
http://www.formation.bull.net
• Virtual library
Bull StoreWay Virtuo

• Storage management
Bull StoreWay Maestro

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 Cover image from photos Stacey Kitchen & Getty Images-PhotoDisc
B-NetworkedStorage_va1

©Bull SAS – February 2007 - RCS Versailles B 642 058 739 - Bull acknowledges the right of the proprietary trademarks contained herein. Bull reserves the right to modify this document at any time
without notice. Some offers or part of offers described in this document may not be available in your country. Please contact your local Bull correspondent for information regarding the offers that may be
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