[luau] Linux Fibre Channel Server?

[Dustin Cross]

Brian,

I understand how Fibre Channel works and the cost involved with buying the
HBAs and switch.  What I am trying to get information on is can I use my
existing Linux file server, put a Fibre Channel HBA in it and share disks
out to other systems on the Fibre Channel SAN?

It sounds like this Mayastor software
(http://www.pavitrasoft.com/mayastor/) does exactly what I am looking for.

I don't want to invest thousands of dollars in something like an Apple
Xraid if I can accomplish the same thing with my existing Linux File
Server.


Mahalo,
Dusty


>
> Hi Dusty,
>
> I have setup many systems with FiberChannel and GigE networks (mainly
> FreeBSD).
> There is really not much to it other than installing the Fiber/GigE NIC in
> your server. Before you buy
> a NIC it would be a good idea to make sure the drivers for the NIC exist
> for
> Linux. I don't know what type of file server software you are using but
> installing FiberChannel NIC may or may not help you. If all the hosts on
> your network are connected via 100Mbps connections to the file server and
> the current NIC on your file server isn't maxing out on throughput at any
> given time, then you will not notice much of a performance difference.
> Fiber
> Channel can also be expensive, remember you will need a FiberChannel
> switch
> too. I have no idea what type of data you share over your network, but if
> it
> isn't extremely brandwidth intensive you may want to look at a GigE
> (10/100/1000 Mbps) solution instead. This route may save you quite a bit
> of
> cash.
>
> --Brian
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dustin Cross" <dusty at sandust.com>
> To: <luau at videl.ics.hawaii.edu>
> Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2004 12:55 PM
> Subject: [luau] Linux Fibre Channel Server?
>
>
>> Aloha,
>>
>> I am trying to find out if it is possible to put a Fibre Channel card in
>> my Linux File Server and start sharing disk space over 2Gb fibre
>> Channel.
>> Does anyone have any knowledge of doing this?
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Dusty
>>
>>
>>
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