Quoting InfoStor

In the context of server virtualization and storage, end users and vendors agree: Separate the storage from the server. Maximizing the benefits of server virtualization (such as resource consolidation) requires shared storage, which means SANs.

According to International Data Corp., about 80% of virtual servers are connected to SANs. And, today, virtually all of them are Fibre Channel SANs. However, iSCSI-based IP SANs may have inherent advantages in the context of server virtualization environments.

According to Matt Baker, product manager, storage marketing, at Dell, the benefits of iSCSI in a virtual server environment fall into three categories:

• Reducing the complexity and costs associated with shared storage;
• Facilitating virtual machine (VM) mobility, which is one of the key value propositions of server virtualization; and
• Improving data protection, such as backups and disaster recovery.

“In many cases, iSCSI provides a superior fabric for server virtualization compared to Fibre Channel, not just a cheaper one,” says Baker.

Praveen Asthana, Dell’s marketing director, takes it one step further: “Server virtualization is a ‘killer app’ for iSCSI.”

Read the rest of this great article, here.