Cisco Cisco MDS 9000 16-Port Fibre Channel Switching Module Livre blanc
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In the fall of 2010, Cisco Systems commissioned Forrester Consulting to evaluate end-to-end storage area
network/local area network (SAN/LAN) networking issues including Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE)
adoption.
network/local area network (SAN/LAN) networking issues including Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE)
adoption.
In conducting in-depth surveys and phone interviews in the US, Canada, and Europe with 106 IT decision-
makers with storage and network knowledge, Forrester found that these companies do believe that
convergence will happen over the next five years, but that they face barriers to adoption such as organizational
challenges and concerns over technology maturity. Based on the results of these surveys, Forrester concludes
the following:
makers with storage and network knowledge, Forrester found that these companies do believe that
convergence will happen over the next five years, but that they face barriers to adoption such as organizational
challenges and concerns over technology maturity. Based on the results of these surveys, Forrester concludes
the following:
Most users believe that there are benefits to be gained through convergence. Around 80% of respondents
across a variety of questions state that they think that there are benefits to be had from the convergence of
SAN and LAN on a common network or through adoption of common protocols. This shows interest in the
benefits as well as confidence that they are attainable, which is significant given the conservative nature of
data center buyers. It’s also notable that this confidence exists in spite of the fact that options for and
experience with end-to-end convergence remain limited to date.
SAN and LAN on a common network or through adoption of common protocols. This shows interest in the
benefits as well as confidence that they are attainable, which is significant given the conservative nature of
data center buyers. It’s also notable that this confidence exists in spite of the fact that options for and
experience with end-to-end convergence remain limited to date.
Organizational barriers to convergence are significant but appear to be diminishing. Respondents indicate
that organizational issues related to a common team managing both SAN and LAN are not trivial. Most
respondents state that they currently have separate teams, although many point to a fairly deep
connection between teams in current reporting structures. Early movers toward convergence point to
success in combining the teams, with this combination leading to synergies and positive outcomes. Role-
based access controls built into the management tools of FCoE-capable network equipment may help to
ease the transition and ease the division of labor in newly converged organizations.
respondents state that they currently have separate teams, although many point to a fairly deep
connection between teams in current reporting structures. Early movers toward convergence point to
success in combining the teams, with this combination leading to synergies and positive outcomes. Role-
based access controls built into the management tools of FCoE-capable network equipment may help to
ease the transition and ease the division of labor in newly converged organizations.
Refresh is seen as a key catalyst for adoption of converged architecture. Most survey respondents point to
significant change within their data center environment as a strong catalyst for consideration of migration
to a converged architecture. Both refresh within an existing center and the need to build a greenfield data
center site are indicated as likely events that could spur adoption of converged network infrastructure.
This viewpoint represents a cost pragmatism common in IT, with longer-term benefits needing to wait for
opportunistic capital spending. This also points to refresh or builds as key opportunities to evaluate new
technologies, processes, and management structures.
to a converged architecture. Both refresh within an existing center and the need to build a greenfield data
center site are indicated as likely events that could spur adoption of converged network infrastructure.
This viewpoint represents a cost pragmatism common in IT, with longer-term benefits needing to wait for
opportunistic capital spending. This also points to refresh or builds as key opportunities to evaluate new
technologies, processes, and management structures.
Forrester defines SAN/LAN convergence as traffic for storage and application networking being carried on
a common physical network infrastructure or on separate but technologically common networks.
a common physical network infrastructure or on separate but technologically common networks.
The transport network for convergence is generally expected to be Ethernet.