* Microsoft, IBM announce software-only boot from SAN drivers
Microsoft and IBM recently announced a software-only boot from storage-area network drivers that allows BladeCenter servers to be connected to iSCSI-based networks.
The software-based SAN boot replaces specialized iSCSI network adapter hardware from vendors such as Alacritech, Qlogic and Adaptec. The boot software can be implemented by either changing the server’s BIOS or the network adapter’s firmware. The new software will allow IT administrators to use simple Gigabit Ethernet adapters.
Servers remotely booted from the SAN will still need their own LUN (virtual disk) assigned to them. Microsoft is looking into ways of using a single boot image to boot several servers.
A number of vendors are implementing remote SAN boot in their products. Among them are iSCSI vendors Alacritech, Intansa, Equallogic, FalconStor, Lefthand, Nimbus Data Systems and Sanrad. Other vendors, including Azaleos, Intel, Brocade, Cisco, Dell and HP are also supporting the capability. EmBoot, a maker of remote boot products, announced winBoot/I, software that uses Microsoft’s iSCSI Software Enabled SAN boot.
Microsoft is also capitalizing on the iSCSI target software it acquired from String Bean Software. The software allows users to get both block-base SAN storage and network-attached storage (NAS) in one box.
OEMs will offer the iSCSI target as part of their Windows Storage Server 2003 products. The software will include Virtual Shadow Copy Service, Virtual Disk Service and Multipath IO capability.
