Broadcom Demonstrates FCoE HBA Functionality and Ethernet Convergence

Broadcom Corporation has demonstrated convergence of standard Layer 2 (L2) Ethernet with Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) and iSCSI storage traffic over a single 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) port at its analyst day event in Santa Clara, Calif., on December 15th.

The Broadcom demonstration showcases network and storage processing convergence over an existing Ethernet infrastructure at a performance level of 500K IOPS (input/output operations per second) for FCoE host bus adapter (HBA) functionality. These exceptional performance levels are maintained regardless of the mix between FCoE and iSCSI traffic, resulting in superior FCoE HBA performance with lower CPU utilization and system power consumption.

Broadcom’s proven 10GbE NetXtreme® II controller technology now allows customers to fully utilize network and storage processing convergence over their existing Ethernet infrastructure with outstanding performance of 500K IOPS for FCoE HBA functionality.

• It provides hardware-based acceleration and offload technology that supports HBA functionality for both FCoE and iSCSI using on-chip protocol processing. On-chip processing frees CPU resources, increases bandwidth, and utilizes the existing Ethernet network infrastructure.

The proven 10GbE NetXtreme II controller technology provides a full offload architecture that results in a number of advantages when compared to on-load or stateless architectures, including:

• Significantly lower CPU utilization that provides for better application scaling.
• Up to 40 watts reduction in system power consumption.
• Enhanced interoperability.
• More secure operation.

With convergence over Ethernet, customers are no longer required to procure and maintain separate infrastructures for networking and storage. For example, multiple storage infrastructures are traditionally required if NAS, iSCSI and Fibre Channel technologies are all used. The Broadcom architectural solution simultaneously supports both full offload and HBA functionality of iSCSI and FCoE, with concurrent NAS functionality, using only a single Ethernet port. Additional benefits of convergence over Ethernet include:

• A single port for storage and networking traffic (i.e. FCoE, iSCSI, NAS, TCP Offload Engine (TOE), management and standard Layer 2 Ethernet).
• A reduction in the number of network interface cards (NICs) and storage HBAs are required in a server using a single controller.
• Significantly reduced associated power and cooling costs.
• Lower network infrastructure management overhead.
• Less cabling and fewer switch ports required in the network.
• Simpler network scalability for data center growth.

With full support of an FCoE HBA storage solution, Broadcom is enabling IT managers to retain their existing Fibre Channel storage and backup infrastructure, which in turn, protects their company’s existing networking investment and provides the ability to leverage Ethernet management and quality of service (QoS) practices inside the iSCSI and Fibre Channel space.

Vinod Lakhani, Senior Director & General Manager, Broadcom’s High-Speed Controller line of business, said: "Our standards-compliant convergence demonstration over Ethernet further highlights our unique ability to deliver high performance, production-ready technologies that enable next generation convergence in the enterprise. With our NetXtreme II family of highly integrated solutions, we can now provide advanced levels of convergence, such as FCoE, that OEMs require."