Network convergence – role in I/O virtualization

What is a converged network?• A single network capable of

transmitting both Ethernet and storage traffic

What is required to converge Fibre Channel?• Encapsulate FC frames into Ethernet Frames

– Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE)

• Enhance Ethernet to ensure reliability in congested networks– Converged Enhanced Ethernet (CEE)

a.k.a. “lossless” Ethernet

2

CEE – Detailed description

Ethernet

DCB

• Data Center Bridging (DCB) −Set of new/enhanced protocols that support multiple traffic

classes over any standard IEEE 802 network−Support lossy and lossless traffic classes−Part of the IEEE 802.1 set of standards (LAN Bridging/Switching)−Amendments to IEEE 802.1Q, Virtual Bridged Local Area

Networkso 802.1Qbb – Priority-based Flow Control (PFC)o 802.1Qaz – Enhanced Transmission Selection (ETS)

DCB Capability Exchange Protocol (DCBX)o 802.1Qau – Congestion Notification (QCN)

DCB

+Converged Enhanced

Ethernet (CEE)

• Converged Enhanced Ethernet (CEE) −CEE is new Ethernet infrastructure that implements DCB−The term “CEE” was coined by an ad hoc industry group that put

together the original proposals for DCB to the IEEE−There are hardware and software changes required for CEE,

so legacy Ethernet gear is not designed for converged traffic

Industry path to convergence2010 2011 20122009

EnabledNetworks

1 hop Multi-hop2 hop

Enclosure & Top-of-rack

Top-of-rack enclosure aggregationEnd-of-row rack aggregation

End-to-end CEE/FCoE

CEE

FCoE Final Ratified Spec Spec

Final Ratified Spec Spec

Final Ratified Spec Spec

Next Gen ProductsCongestion

management

CEE configuration

protocol

INCITS T11.3 FC-BB-5

IEEE 802.1Qau(QCN) & Qbb(PFC)

IEEE 802.1Qaz(ETS and DCBX)

What Are The Key Components Of An End-to-end, Converged Network?Converged Network

Adapter (CNA)

Converge traffic at the server

Replaces NICs, HBAs

Switches & Interconnects

Converge traffic over CEE. Split to connect to legacy networks or connect to new FCoE switches and

targets

Replace traditional Ethernet and FC

switches

Target Storage

Natively connects to FCoE/CEE networks

Replace traditional FC storage

What is HP doing about FCoE and CEE?HP will deliver the converged edge

– Converging the fabric further with FCoE and iSCSI

– Even fewer interconnects to buy

– Even fewer interconnects to power

– Low power and lower costs CNA’s cards for backward compatibility

LOM

Change

CostEnergyTime