Information About IP Storage

The IP Storage services module (IPS module) and the MPS-14/2 module allow you to use FCIP and iSCSI features. FCIP and iSCSI features are specific to the IPS module and are available in Cisco MDS 9200 Switches or Cisco MDS 9500 Directors. The switch connects separated SAN islands using Fibre Channel over IP (FCIP), and it allows IP hosts to access Fibre Channel storage using the iSCSI protocol.

FCIP—FCIP transports Fibre Channel frames transparently over an IP network between two Cisco MDS 9000 Family switches or other FCIP standards-compliant devices.

iSCSI—The IPS module provides IP hosts access to Fibre Channel storage devices. The IP host sends SCSI commands encapsulated in iSCSI protocol data units (PDUs) to a Cisco MDS 9000 Family switch IPS port over a TCP/IP connection. At this point, the commands are routed from an IP network into a Fibre Channel network and forwarded to the intended target.

The IP Storage services module (IPS module) and the MPS-14/2 module allow you to use FCIP and iSCSI features. Both modules integrate seamlessly into the Cisco MDS 9000 Family, and support the full range of features available on other switching modules, including VSANs, security, and traffic management. The following types of storage services modules are currently available for use in any switch in the Cisco MDS 9200 Series or in the Cisco MDS 9500 Series:

The 4-port, hot-swappable IPS module (IPS-4) has four Gigabit Ethernet ports.

The 8-port, hot-swappable IPS module (IPS-8) has eight Gigabit Ethernet ports.

The MPS-14/2 module has 14 Fibre Channel ports (numbered 1 through 14) and two Gigabit Ethernet ports (numbered 1 and 2).

Gigabit Ethernet ports in these modules can be configured to support the FCIP protocol, the iSCSI protocol, or both protocols simultaneously:

FCIP—FCIP transports Fibre Channel frames transparently over an IP network between two Cisco MDS 9000 Family switches or other FCIP standards-compliant devices.

iSCSI—The IPS module provides IP hosts access to Fibre Channel storage devices. The IP host sends SCSI commands encapsulated in iSCSI protocol data units (PDUs) to a Cisco MDS 9000 Family switch IPS port over a TCP/IP connection. At this point, the commands are routed from an IP network into a Fibre Channel network and forwarded to the intended target.

This section contains the following topics: