Cost Optimized 32G Fabric Switch, FC-NPV On Nexus 9300, SAN Telemetry Streaming and Integration with Virtual Instrument …

As data grows with more people, devices, and applications coming online, the data center storage infrastructure that hosts and powers the workloads also needs to evolve to keep up with the increasing demand. What should be truly alarming to any storage and storage networking admin is the vast majority of this data growth has happened in just the last few years. Just consider that it took the world more than 40 years to generate the first zettabyte, a run rate we reached last year.

As a result, customers are constantly on the lookout for high-performance, easily scalable, ultra-reliable, and highly intelligent solutions to manage their fast-growing storage and storage networking environments. The newest batch of Cisco innovations directly address the challenges our customers are dealing with every day. Here’s are the highlights of what we’re introducing (Press Release).

More flexible deployment options at attractive cost points with a new line-rate 32G Fibre Channel Fabric Switch,

Easier LAN/SAN convergence through support for Fibre Channel N_Port Virtualization (NPV) on the Nexus 93180YC-FX, built on Cisco Cloud Scale® technology,

Advanced troubleshooting and enhanced SAN visibility through the new SAN Telemetry Streaming on MDS 9700 48-Port 32-Gbps Fibre Channel Switching Module.

Deep and more efficient SAN visibility through enhanced integration with Virtual Instruments ( VI Press Release)

Attend this webinar to learn more:  Nov 8th, 10am PDT.

Learn about the new 32G Fibre Channel Fabric Switch, FC-NPV support on Nexus 9300, SAN Telemetry Streaming, VI Integration

High-Performance SAN Switching at Entry-Level Prices

The new Cisco MDS 9132T 32-Port Fibre Channel Switch enables customers to cost effectively scale from eight to 32 ports as demand grows with each port capable of 32 Gigabits per second performance at line rate. This solution consolidates hundreds of high-performance virtual machines without disrupting existing architecture. The new switch includes up to 32 auto-sensing line-rate 32-Gbps Fibre Channel ports in a compact easy to deploy and manage 1-rack-unit (1RU) form factor.

Built on a versatile semi-modular design catering to both entry-level and departmental SANs, the Cisco MDS 9132T enables customers to grow from eight to 16 ports initially on the base, and expands up to 32 ports using the 16-port expansion module when capacity needs to grow, thus lowering initial cost of ownership. The MDS 9132T also offers enhanced onboard telemetry and a comprehensive set of built-in tools for flash storage environments, enabling end-to-end and proactive diagnostics to identify and correct conditions that can impact performance.

Fibre Channel NPV Support on Cloud Scale Nexus 93180YC-FX

Cisco is a leading innovator in promoting the benefits of LAN/SAN convergence. Cisco extends this lead with support for Fibre Channel NPV support on the Nexus 9300-FX fixed configuration data center switches, starting with support for 16G FC with a pathway for 32G FC.

NPV is an FC technology designed to reduced switch management and overhead, especially as the SAN fabric grows. By adding NPV support on the Nexus 9300-FX, customers who have chosen to consolidate their LAN and SAN infrastructure at the data center access layer will have an easy migration path from the earlier generations of Nexus 5000/5600/6000 switches to state-of-the art capabilities of the Nexus 9300-FX, powered by Cisco Cloud Scale technology.

SAN Telemetry Streaming

Cisco SAN Telemetry Streaming improves troubleshooting and provides deep insight into SAN fabrics enabling users to analyze every frame, flow, at any speed. Enabled through built-in sensors, Telemetry Streaming performs at line rate for 100 percent visibility with no performance impact to data flows. This feature can be deployed anywhere in the data path, offering seamless integration and ease-of-operations. Further, no external hardware taps are required, which simplifies operations for a variety of troubleshooting, diagnostics use cases.

Cisco/Virtual Instruments Technology Integration

Cisco will offer direct technology integration with Virtual Instruments to  solve current pain points of hardware probes and scalability on SAN fabric management. The integration combines the Cisco’s SAN Telemetry Streaming on MDS 9700 32G module with VI’s VirtualWisdom.

Cisco SAN customers can now choose to deploy VirtualWisdom non intrusively, eliminating the need for physical TAPs. Data will be streamed real-time from MDS FC SAN switches to the VirtualWisdom Platform Appliance. This brings together the best of the Virtual Instruments analytics capabilities with the best of SAN infrastructure.

Please check out these blogs by our partners !

Ramesh Chitor , Senior Director, Business Development, Tegile: Future-Proof Your SAN Investments With a Platform That Supports Cost-Effective Web and Cloud-Scale Deployments.

Rick Walsworth, VP Product & Solution Marketing, Vexata Maximizing Cisco 32Gbps Fibre Channel Infrastructure

Mike Jochimsen, Director of Alliances, Kaminaro, what-excites-us-about-ciscos-latest-announcement

Summary: Modern data center and cloud applications generate vast quantities of data and require more sophisticated processing capabilities than older-generation applications. Cisco is helping customers support today’s applications and resulting data growth with a number of performance, reliability, and fabric management/visibility innovations for the MDS and Nexus switch families.

For more info
Storage Networking
Press Release

VI Press Release

Attend Webinar: Nov 8th: 10 AM PST

Tony Antony
Sr. Marketing Manager