Policy Pages Reference : Optimization policy settings : FCIP
  
FCIP
You can enable and modify FCIP storage optimization module settings. For details, see the SteelHead User Guide for SteelHead CX.
FCIP is a transparent Fibre Channel (FC) tunneling protocol that transmits FC information between FC storage facilities over IP networks. FCIP is designed to overcome the distance limitations of FC.
FCIP storage optimization provides support for environments using storage technology that originates traffic as FC and then uses either a Cisco Multilayer Director Switch (MDS) or a Brocade 7500 FCIP gateway.
To increase the data reduction LAN-to-WAN ratio with either equal or greater data throughput in environments with FCIP traffic, RiOS separates the FCIP headers from the application data workload written to storage. The FCIP headers contain changing protocol state information, such as sequence numbers. These headers interrupt the network stream and reduce the ability of SDR to match large, contiguous data patterns. After isolating the header data, the SteelHead performs SDR network deduplication on the larger, uninterrupted storage data workload and LZ compression on the headers. RiOS then optimizes, reassembles, and delivers the data to the TCP consumer without compromising data integrity.
Note: Environments with Symmetrix Remote Data Facility (SRDF) traffic originated through Symmetrix FC ports (RF ports) only require configuration of the RiOS FCIP storage optimization module. Traffic originated through Symmetrix GigE ports (RE ports) requires configuration of the RiOS SRDF storage optimization module. For details on storage technologies that originate traffic through FC, see the SteelHead Deployment Guide.
You configure the RiOS FCIP storage optimization module on the SteelHead closest to the FCIP gateway that opens the FCIP TCP connection by sending the initial SYN packet. The SteelHead location can vary by environment. If you are unsure which gateway initiates the SYN, enable FCIP on both the client-side and server-side SteelHeads.
For details about storage technologies that originate traffic through FC, see the SteelHead User Guide for SteelHead CX.
FCIP settings
Complete the configuration as described in this table.
Control
Description
Enable FCIP
Enables FCIP protocol. By default, FCIP is disabled.
By default, RiOS directs all traffic on the standard ports 3225, 3226, 3227, and 3228 through the FCIP optimization module.
Environments with RF-originated SRDF traffic between VMAX arrays might need additional configuration to isolate and optimize the DIFs embedded within the headers of the FCIP data payload. For details, see the SteelHead User Guide.
FCIP Ports
Specify the FCIP ports. Optionally, you can add FCIP port numbers separated by commas or remove a port number. Don’t specify a port range.
By default, RiOS directs all traffic on the standard ports 3225, 3226, 3227, and 3228 through the FCIP optimization module.
Note: The FCIP ports field must always contain at least one FCIP port.
Apply
Applies your settings.
(If you have enabled or disabled FCIP optimization or changed a port, you must restart the optimization service.)
Rules
Environments with GigE-based (RF port) originated SRDF traffic between VMAX arrays must isolate DIF headers within the data stream. These DIF headers interrupt the data stream. When the R1 Symmetrix array is running Enginuity microcode version 5875 or newer, manual FCIP rules aren’t necessary. In 5875+ environments, RiOS automatically detects the presence of DIF headers and DIF blocksize for GigE-based (RF port) SRDF traffic. To manually isolate the DIF headers when the R1 Symmetrix array is running Enginuity microcode version 5874 or older, you add FCIP rules by defining a match for source or destination IP traffic.
The default rule optimizes all remaining traffic that has not been selected by another rule. It always appears as the last in the list. You can’t remove the default rule; however, you can change its DIF setting. The default rule uses 0.0.0.0 in the source and destination IP address fields, specifying all IP addresses. You can’t specify 0.0.0.0 as the source or destination IP address for any other rule.
For details about rules, see the SteelHead User Guide.
Add a New Rule
Displays the controls for adding a new rule. Displays the controls for adding a manual rule. Use this control when the R1 Symmetrix array is running Enginuity microcode version 5874 or earlier.
Source IP
Specify the connection source IP address of the FCIP gateway tunnel endpoints.
Note: The source IP address can’t be the same as the destination IP address.
Destination IP
Specify the connection destination IP address of the FCIP gateway tunnel endpoints.
Enable DIF
Isolates and optimizes the DIFs embedded within the FCIP data workload.
DIF Data Block Size
Specify the size of a standard block of storage data, in bytes, after which a DIF header begins. The valid range is from 1 to 2048 bytes. The default value is 512, which is a standard block size for Open System environments. When you enable DIF, RiOS FCIP optimization looks for a DIF header after every 512 bytes of storage data unless you change the default setting.
Open System environments (such as Windows, UNIX, and Linux) inject the DIF header into the data stream after every 512 bytes of storage data.
IBM iSeries AS/400 host environments inject the DIF header into the data stream after every 520 bytes.
This field is required when you enable DIF.
Add
Adds the manual rule to the list. The Management Console redisplays the Rules table and applies your modifications to the running configuration, which is stored in memory.
Remove Selected
Select the check box next to the name and click Remove Selected.