MDS Switches Provide and Enterprise Class SAN Fabric for Demanding Workloads
May 26, 2021
MDS Switches Provide and Enterprise Class SAN Fabric for Demanding Workloads
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Modules Used
- Cisco MDS 9200 Series Multiservice Switches
Overall Satisfaction with Cisco MDS 9000 Series Multilayer Switches
We use a mix of MDS 9248, and 9396 fabric switches to support FC SAN Fabrics. These [Cisco MDS 9000 Series Multilayer Switches] provide FC SAN Fabric to virtualized VMware environments and for bare-metal hosts running either Windows or Red Hat. The MDS's enable us to have a standard method of presenting FC fabric across the facility. We are currently visiting the implementation of [stretched] FC fabric through DWDM to replace FCIP replication between storage arrays.
- Zoning
- High MTBF
- Buffer Credits
- Centralized Management through DCNM
- Cost (Port License Cost vs New Switch)
- 3rd Part SFP+ Compatibility
- Smart Zoning (personally prefer SIMT)
- High MTBF
- Stable hardened OS reducing the need for constant upgrades
- NVMeOF Compatibility
- High port density in relatively small footprint (with 9396)
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), Windows Server and VMware ESXi
For a high performing team with a number of SAN islands within a single facility, being able to have one standard product for FC fabric presentation to hosts has enabled us to run a smaller supporting team. We no longer have to manage different SAN fabrics across the environment and the compatibility with Next-Gen storage like NVMeOF ensures we don't need to forklift replace the equipment to support demanding workloads.
Security
10
- Extreme VCS Fabrics (formerly Brocade VCS Fabrics) and IBM SAN48B-5
We looked at the Brocade G series and IBM SAN switches, but the seamless integration into our AAA suite and availability of skills in our local market were big factors. We also have these deployed in FlexPod and VxBlock environments, which the reference architectures provide additional confidence in the solutions overall compatibility, supportability and sustainability.
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