| iSCSI (Internet SCSI) is the standard protocol for | | | | and disaster recovery. |
| encapsulating SCSI command into TCP/IP packets | | | | - A user can access the same desktop wherever in |
| and enabling I/O block data transport over IP | | | | the world they are -- the age of the thin client is |
| networks. iSCSI can be used to build IP-based | | | | here. |
| Storage Area Networks (SANs). The simple, yet | | | | - Standard firewall and security measures can be |
| powerful technology can help provide a high-speed, | | | | used to protect an organization's data. |
| low-cost, long-distance storage solution for Web | | | | - There is no need to have large trunks of dark fibre |
| sites, service providers, enterprises and other | | | | or other communications infrastructure deployed, |
| organizations. | | | | with accompanying contract and SLA management. |
| The iSCSI target resides on a host where StarWind | | | | - An organization could place all of its disk space in |
| has been installed. StarWind is a software iSCSI | | | | purpose-built co-located premises, rather than in |
| target solution, which supports various kinds of | | | | expensive office space. |
| physical devices and virtualization. | | | | - Centralized backup of all the storage within an |
| The iSCSI client is called initiator. With an iSCSI | | | | organization is now a reality. |
| initiator, it is possible to access different iSCSI target | | | | - An organization's security need not be compromised |
| devices. There are a lot of iSCSI initiator | | | | by the theft of a laptop, for example, since no |
| implementations for different operation systems. The | | | | confidential data need be stored on the thin client. |
| communication between an iSCSI target and an iSCSI | | | | - Existing SAN installations can be incorporated in new |
| initiator is done over a TCP/IP-based network (a local | | | | iSCSI networks by utilizing gateway technology to |
| network or the Internet). | | | | bring iSCSI and Fibre Channel (FC) devices into the |
| The use of the iSCSI protocol is a revolution in | | | | same network. |
| storage applications. With an iSCSI initiator a remote | | | | - iSCSI greatly reduces the Total Cost of Ownership |
| device appears as it was a local one - there is no | | | | (TCO) - existing networking and storage resources |
| difference for applications. The effect is to provide | | | | can be used. |
| geographical independence to the person using the | | | | - iSCSI storage needs can be outsourced to storage |
| initiator. There are far-reaching consequences of this: | | | | brokers, for such advantages as co-located storage |
| The use of familiar network technology and | | | | for disaster recovery and storage on-demand |
| management reduces training and staff costs, and | | | | provision. |
| increases stability and reliability of an organization's | | | | - iSCSI latency is based on that of TCP/IP, so |
| infrastructure. | | | | standard data compression techniques and |
| - iSCSI is scalable over long distance or in a Local | | | | traffic-shaping techniques will optimize throughput. |
| Area Network (LAN), enabling remote data replication | | | | |