Adaptec, InRange Extend Fiber Channel SANs

The new solution will enable customers to connect geographically dispersed Fibre Channel SANs via IP networks, officials from both companies said. It will also allow integration of iSCSI based devices/networks into a Fibre Channel based SAN. This provides a higher ROI due to asset sharing and a common backup/recovery infrastructure.

Adaptec’s storage router accelerator (SRA) is a high-speed networking ASIC that enables Fibre Channel traffic to be converted to Gigabit Ethernet traffic using FCIP or FC-to-iSCSI protocols. The unique, ASIC-based solution is scalable to 10Gbit.

“This new partnership with InRange, stemming from our recent Platys acquisition, underscores Adaptec’s commitment to accelerating the adoption of IP storage networking,” said Ram Jayam, vice president and general manager of Adaptec’s Storage Networking Group. “Adaptec’s SRA solution provides a cost- effective and scalable way to extend Fibre Channel SANs using existing Ethernet infrastructure.”

IP Storage provides cost-of-ownership advantages by enabling IT managers to capitalize on existing Ethernet infrastructure, staff skills and expertise to minimize interoperability issues and enhance the scalability, performance and accessibility of their data storage. It is based on Ethernet and TCP/IP protocol, which are used in more than 90 percent of all corporate networks worldwide. The Fibre Channel extension segment of IP Storage, which Adaptec’s SRA targets, extends distances between Fibre Channel SANs. It also enables connectivity between Fibre Channel and iSCSI attached devices, officials added.