VSAN
Encyclopedia
In computer networking, a virtual storage area network (VSAN) is a collection of ports from a set of connected Fibre Channel switch
es, that form a virtual fabric. Ports within a single switch can be partitioned into multiple VSANs, despite sharing hardware resources. Conversely, multiple switches can join a number of ports to form a single VSAN.
VSANs were designed by Cisco
, modelled after the virtual local area network (VLAN) concept in Ethernet
networking. In October 2004, the Technical Committee T11 approved VSAN technology into the American National Standards Institute
(ANSI) as the standard.
A VSAN, like each FC fabric, can offer different high-level protocols such as FCP, FCIP
, FICON
, iSCSI
. Each VSAN is a separate self-contained fabric using distinctive security policies, zones, events, memberships, and name services. Traffic is also separate.
Unlike a typical fabric that is resized switch-by-switch, a VSAN can be resized port-by-port.
The use of VSANs allows traffic to be isolated within specific portions of the network. If a problem occurs in one VSAN, that problem can be handled with a minimum of disruption to the rest of the network. VSANs can also be configured separately and independently.
Fibre Channel switch
In the computer storage field, a Fibre Channel switch is a network switch compatible with the Fibre Channel protocol. It allows the creation of a Fibre Channel fabric, that is currently the core component of most storage area networks . The fabric is a network of Fibre Channel devices which...
es, that form a virtual fabric. Ports within a single switch can be partitioned into multiple VSANs, despite sharing hardware resources. Conversely, multiple switches can join a number of ports to form a single VSAN.
VSANs were designed by Cisco
Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in San Jose, California, United States, that designs and sells consumer electronics, networking, voice, and communications technology and services. Cisco has more than 70,000 employees and annual revenue of US$...
, modelled after the virtual local area network (VLAN) concept in Ethernet
Ethernet
Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....
networking. In October 2004, the Technical Committee T11 approved VSAN technology into the American National Standards Institute
American National Standards Institute
The American National Standards Institute is a private non-profit organization that oversees the development of voluntary consensus standards for products, services, processes, systems, and personnel in the United States. The organization also coordinates U.S. standards with international...
(ANSI) as the standard.
A VSAN, like each FC fabric, can offer different high-level protocols such as FCP, FCIP
Fibre Channel over IP
Fibre Channel over IP , is an Internet Protocol was created by the Internet Engineering Task Force as storage technology....
, FICON
FICON
FICON is the IBM proprietary name for the ANSI FC-SB-3 Single-Byte Command Code Sets-3 Mapping Protocol for Fibre Channel protocol. It is a FC layer 4 protocol used to map both IBM’s antecedent channel-to-control-unit cabling infrastructure and protocol onto standard FC services and infrastructure...
, iSCSI
ISCSI
In computing, iSCSI , is an abbreviation of Internet Small Computer System Interface, an Internet Protocol -based storage networking standard for linking data storage facilities. By carrying SCSI commands over IP networks, iSCSI is used to facilitate data transfers over intranets and to manage...
. Each VSAN is a separate self-contained fabric using distinctive security policies, zones, events, memberships, and name services. Traffic is also separate.
Unlike a typical fabric that is resized switch-by-switch, a VSAN can be resized port-by-port.
The use of VSANs allows traffic to be isolated within specific portions of the network. If a problem occurs in one VSAN, that problem can be handled with a minimum of disruption to the rest of the network. VSANs can also be configured separately and independently.
See also
- Storage area networkStorage area networkA storage area network is a dedicated network that provides access to consolidated, block level data storage. SANs are primarily used to make storage devices, such as disk arrays, tape libraries, and optical jukeboxes, accessible to servers so that the devices appear like locally attached devices...
- Fibre ChannelFibre ChannelFibre Channel, or FC, is a gigabit-speed network technology primarily used for storage networking. Fibre Channel is standardized in the T11 Technical Committee of the InterNational Committee for Information Technology Standards , an American National Standards Institute –accredited standards...
- Fibre Channel fabric
- VLAN, for analogous mechanism in EthernetEthernetEthernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....