Storage solutions are complex, multi-layered solutions that involve storage hardware (arrays and tape devices), software (virtualization, data migration, and management), and networks (Fibre Channel, iSCSI, and SAN extension over WAN).

To address this complexity, Firefly will partner with your existing storage vendor or systems integrator to design a comprehensive storage solution—our unparalleled expertise in storage networking with the best-in-class Cisco MDS 9000 family of SAN switches, integrated with storage hardware and management solutions from your existing storage supplier.

Today, many SAN environments consist of numerous islands of connectivity. SAN islands are physically isolated environments, where each island is typically dedicated to a small number of related applications.

Each SAN island is often independently managed by a separate departmental administration team, while strict isolation from faults is achieved through physical network separation. However, the sharing of critical storage assets and the economic savings of storage consolidation are limited by this approach, and each SAN island is often over-provisioned for future growth, with many costly Fibre Channel ports going unused.

Cisco MDS 9000 SAN switches address the problem of SAN island proliferation by virtualizing SAN islands onto a common physical infrastructure. Virtual SANs (VSANs) allow administrators to allocate physical ports within isolated virtual fabrics. Fabric services, traffic management, and administrative access are isolated within each VSAN, providing fault isolation and departmental control while eliminating overprovisioning and enabling sharing of storage assets.

MDS 9000 switches also simplify SAN migration and consolidation by supporting seamless, safe interoperability with Brocade and McDATA switches.

Business continuity is a growing concern for today’s enterprises, and even small and mid-size businesses are beginning to realize the importance of business continuity and disaster recovery planning. The increasing focus on business continuity means ever-increasing volumes of data that must be replicated between sites, and the costs of transporting that data between sites can quickly become prohibitive.

Fortunately, there are a variety of SAN extension technologies available today that can help IT organizations manage both risk and cost. Often, the best approach is a multi-tier WAN solution that matches the BC/DR requirements for each application with an appropriate WAN transport that provides the optimal mix of bandwidth, distance capability, and cost.

Fibre Channel over IP (FCIP) is a cost-effective, scalable connectivity solution for SAN extension. FCIP offers granular scalability by providing the ability to upgrade the underlying IP transport as needed. And, because FCIP is based on IP, FCIP solutions are easily integrated into existing network management tools and practices. Cisco MDS 9000 switches maximize your investment in WAN infrastructure with integrated compression, Write Acceleration, Tape Acceleration, and FICON support for FCIP.
Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM) and Coarse Wave Division Multiplexing (CWDM) are optical networking solutions that enable greater scalability and lower latency for high-performance applications. Cisco DWDM and CWDM SFPs for MDS 9000 Series switches provide a revolutionary low-cost entry point to WDM solutions for SAN extension.
For service providers and enterprises that require maximum scalability, the Cisco ONS 15454 Multi-Service Transport Platform (MSTP) enables the consolidation of WDM and TDM (time-division multiplexing) in a single managed platform, with highly scalable connectivity options for storage, IP, and voice.