VIRTUALIZED iSCSI SANs: Flexible, Scalable Enterprise Storage for Virtual Infrastructures

Overview

iSCSI is a flexible and powerful Storage Area Networking (SAN) protocol that delivers superior capabilities and benefits across all market segments. In addition to providing enterprise-class data availability and performance, the iSCSI protocol enables breakthrough virtual storage designs that parallel the advanced designs of server virtualization technologies such as VMware Infrastructure 3. Enterprises of all sizes are building flexible storage infrastructures using iSCSI and advanced virtualization technologies that let them allocate and shift SAN resources dynamically to respond to the demands of their virtualized server environments. This white paper describes a virtualized infrastructure that applies storage and server virtualization technologies to cost-effectively achieve a flexible, high-performance, dynamic IT infrastructure that is simple to manage and scale.