6 - Metropolitan and Wide Area Storage Networks

Abstract

This chapter focuses on metropolitan and wide area storage networking interfaces including Wave Division Multiplexing (WDM), Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM), Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) /Synchronous Digital Hierarchy(SDH), Fibre Channel over IP (FCIP and iFCP), and other wide area networking interfaces for implementing resilient storage networks. Metropolitan and wide area storage networks enable distributed data centers to support resilient business processing of information. By using metropolitan, intercity, regional, and global storage networking technology, businesses can interconnect data centers to share information resources, address storage management from a central perspective, implement business continuance and recovery schemes, and facilitate consolidation. Metropolitan and wide area storage networking builds on Local Area Networks and traditional storage networking, spanning longer distances that could range from 10km to thousands of kilometers by using different networking technologies. Generally, a Metropolitan Area Network utilizes dedicated (dark) fiber with long-wave optics including long-range Gigabit Interface Connectors (GBICs) and SFPs as well as WDM and DWDM technology.