iSCSI or Fibre Channel- Which SAN is more Suitable for SMBs?
SAN storage is a good data storage solution for enterprises that want to do more with their data. However, before getting one, it is important to first figure out which protocol will be best suited for your organization- iSCSI or Fibre Channel (FC) protocol.
Understanding SAN Storage
Before we get into the details of the iSCSI and fiber channel, it is important that we first understand what SAN data storage is and how does it work.
SAN storage is a shared block-level storage that is made available through a dedicated network. The main advantage of SAN storage and the difference between NAS storage and SAN storage is that with SAN storage, disk storage is seen by a server as if it were on local storage and not on the network. This brings a lot of convenience to the enterprise.
iSCSI Storage Vs Fibre Channel Storage
Now that we have understood SAN storage, the next step is to understand iSCSI storage and fiber channel storage and determine which is best suited for your enterprise.
To put this briefly, as mentioned before, there are two main types of SANs available: Fibre Channel and iSCSI, which are essentially protocols used to access block-level storage.
Early SAN offerings focused on fiber channel. When SANs with fiber channels were introduced, they mostly appealed to enterprise-class IT organizations because of their higher cost. Other than this, a fiber channel network requires special adapters called host bus adapters (HBAs), fiber channel cables, and fiber channel switches which have to be purchased separately and this makes fiber channel SAN a costly option.
iSCSI SAN came after fiber channel SAN and offers a much more affordable alternative because it can leverage a regular IP network to connect the servers to the storage array.
iSCSI SAN, however, still requires special adapters to convert iSCSI protocol to IP but does not require any special network components or cabling. In fact, it’s possible to use a regular network card in conjunction with an iSCSI software initiator to implement an iSCSI SAN without the need of any special equipment.
iSCSI SAN Works Well for SMBs
For many small to medium-sized businesses, iSCSI SAN works the best. This is because iSCSI SAN is more accessible and affordable to SMBs than fiber channel SAN solutions. This main reason, undoubtedly, is the cost-effective nature of the iSCSI SAN solution. The cost of equipment is very low and it is fairly easy and affordable to manage iSCSI SAN storage equipment.
When it comes to fiber channel, there is also a question of acquiring new skills or personnel to manage the network. This is why iSCSI SAN seems a lot more appealing to SMBs as fiber channel SANs are difficult to manage and prove to be cost-effective as well.
There are many vendors out there who offer such storage solutions. StoneFly is the original innovator of the iSCSI protocol. StoneFly made iSCSI into the established storage standard which today is used by many IT professionals and enterprises around the world.
Conclusion
Whether it is iSCSI SAN storage or fiber channel SAN, it is important to first fully understand and research the product and the features before making a decision. iSCSI SAN storage solutions are ideal for SMBs due to the cost-effective nature of these systems. If there are no-cost limitations and you need a more advanced solution than fiber channel SAN is the way to go.
