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An IP SAN lab

IP SAN is relatively new vis-a-vis FC SAN and not many are aware of what it offers. Intransa's efforts in setting up a lab for IP SAN is a step forward in popularising the technology. As it will let storage consultants and students gain a first-hand experience of IP SAN, says Abhinav Singh.

Intransa has been setting up IP SAN labs across the world in order to popularise the new concept. Some are being set up in alliance with educational institutions and some are being located directly.

In India, Intransa has established an IP SAN lab at the New Horizon College of Engineering in Bangalore. This lab is one of the first in the country though there are many such labs abroad. In the recent past, there has been a surge in IP SAN’s popularity and Intransa has no less than 36 IP SAN deployments in India.

Building a skilled community

"By setting up this lab we want to make sure that IP SAN technology is accessible to the community in a managed environment" -Vaidyanathan Iyer Country Manager, Intransa India Liaison Office

By setting up an IP SAN lab, Intransa aims at having storage specialists who know their IP and storage networking. Vaidyanathan Iyer, Country Manager, Intransa, India Liaison Office says, “By setting up this lab we want to make sure that IP SAN technology is accessible to the community in a managed environment.”

SMBs are expected to avail the lab’s services in the beginning. At a later stage, large enterprises will be able do it. SMBs are expected to consolidate their storage and they are finding an opportunity in IP SAN because of its cost advantage when compared to FC SAN. They want to get their SAN concepts clear. The lab aims at teaching the students at the college level itself and will showcase the new technology’s advantages to Intransa’s present and prospective customers through simulation. Customers will be able to simulate their storage environment and see how they can scale IP SAN as the business grows.

The lab is equipped with storage equipment, switches, servers and trained faculty to manage simulations. Additionally, there will be comprehensive sessions on topics like IP SAN vs FC SAN and deploying IP SAN, iSCSI and so on. Iyer adds, “Upon completing these sessions a participant will understand the fundamentals of how IP SAN works, how it compares to FC SAN and be familiar with the major components of the iSCSI packet and identify where iSCSI protocol fits in the TCP/IP network stack.”

First-hand experience

The courseware at the IP SAN lab will include implementation exercises featuring Intransa’s product line. The curriculum for students and sessions for Intransa’s customers will familiarise them with the company’s product portfolio. It will also give a first-hand feel of major software components in an IP SAN storage box, where each is installed and run, and key software features such as RAID, snapshot, replication, system logs, backups and data protection.

Windows and Linux

Customers can test and deploy IP SANs on both Windows 2003 Server and Red Hat Enterprise Linux. There are two IP SAN systems installed—IP-3000 with 2 terabytes capacity. Both come with StorControl Management System and the Snapshot Software. There are also two IBM mid-range servers attached to these storage boxes. Iyer says, “The multiple platform exposure will help customers and students get a feel of how an IP SAN system works in a multiple platform environment and to see how it can be scaled up without disturbing the throughput or performance.” Intransa will be providing training to academic staff at the New Horizon College on their IP-SAN systems who in turn will train students.

Iyer explains, “Our customers will be exposed to an academic environment and will get trained in the latest IP SAN technology. The emphasis will be on training.”

abhinav@expresscomputeronline.com