Dell PowerEdge FX2/FX2s - Manual (Page 112)

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iSCSI Optimization
An Aggregator enables internet small computer system interface (iSCSI) optimization with default iSCSI
parameter settings(Default iSCSI Optimization Values) and is auto-provisioned to support:
iSCSI Optimization: Operation
To display information on iSCSI configuration and sessions, use show commands.
iSCSI optimization enables quality-of-service (QoS) treatment for iSCSI traffic.
iSCSI Optimization Overview
iSCSI is a TCP/IP-based protocol for establishing and managing connections between IP-based storage
devices and initiators in a storage area network (SAN).
iSCSI optimization enables the network switch to auto-detect Dell’s iSCSI storage arrays and triggers self-
configuration of several key network configurations that enables optimization of the network for better
storage traffic throughput.
iSCSI optimization provides a means of monitoring iSCSI sessions and applying QoS policies on iSCSI
traffic. When enabled, iSCSI optimization allows a switch to monitor (snoop) the establishment and
termination of iSCSI connections. The switch uses the snooped information to detect iSCSI sessions and
connections established through the switch.
iSCSI optimization allows you to reduce deployment time and management complexity in data centers.
In a data center network, Dell EqualLogic and Compellent iSCSI storage arrays are connected to a
converged Ethernet network using the data center bridging exchange protocol (DCBx) through Ethernet
switches.
iSCSI session monitoring over virtual link trunking (VLT) synchronizes the iSCSI session information
between the VLT peers, allowing session information to be available in both VLT peers.
iSCSI optimization functions as follows:
• Manual configuration to detect Compellent storage arrays where auto-detection is not supported.
• Jumbo frames — Ports are set to a maximum transmission unit (MTU) of 12,000 bytes.
• If you configured flow-control, iSCSI uses the current configuration. If you did not configure flow-
control, iSCSI auto-configures flow control.
• iSCSI monitoring sessions — the switch monitors and tracks active iSCSI sessions in connections on
the switch, including port information and iSCSI session information.
• iSCSI QoS — A user-configured iSCSI class of service (CoS) profile is applied to all iSCSI traffic.
Classifier rules are used to direct the iSCSI data traffic to queues that can be given preferential QoS
treatment over other data passing through the switch. Preferential treatment helps to avoid session
interruptions during times of congestion that would otherwise cause dropped iSCSI packets.
112 iSCSI Optimization