IFCP (Internet Fibre Channel Protocol)
Unlike Fibre Channel over IPIFCP lets users maintain the Fibre Channel architecture while gaining the benefits of IP networks.
IFCP wraps Fibre Channel data in IP packets but maps IP addresses to individual Fibre Channel devices. That provides more stability than a tunneled FCIP deployment, some vendors say.
When iFCP creates the IP packets, it inserts information that is readable by network devices and routable within the IP network. "IFCP gives you visibility into the talking pairs between servers and storage, and gives you a way to monitor discrete conversations between storage initiators and targets," says Tom Clark, director of technical marketing at Nishan, which supports iFCP, FCIP and iSCSI in its storage products.
Because the packets contain IP addresses, customers can use IP network management tools such as HP's OpenView to manage the flow of Fibre Channel data using iFCP.
From The ins and outs of interconnects, Network World, 09/09/02.
Additional resources
IP Storage Forum - iFCP subgroup
Case studies and white papers.
IP storage: A review of iSCSI, FCIP, iFCP
From iSCSI Storage.
Topic: Storage
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FCP
by jakky
good product
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