Definition
Fibre Channel over Internet Protocol (FCIP) is a protocol that facilitates the transfer of Fibre Channel (FC) storage traffic over an IP network. This enables organizations to link geographically dispersed private data centers with existing IP infrastructure.
FCIP Working Mechanism
FCIP uses tunneling to bypass the distance limitations of traditional Fibre Channel cabling, facilitating data transmission on networks that don’t natively support Fibre Channel protocols. FCIP includes Fibre Channel frames in IP packets, enabling the transportation of FC traffic over IP networks.
FCIP employs gateways to translate traffic between FCIP protocols and the Fibre Channel. These gateways bridge the connections between the Fibre Channel storage area network (SAN) and IP networks.
Fibre Channel over IP Applications
- Merging SAN islands: FCIP enables the spreading out of storage area networks over large distances from a few kilometers to across continents.
- Disaster recovery data centers: FCIP facilitates the cheap, reliable, and quick movement of vast amounts of data between SANs, extending disaster recovery centers.
- Remote backup: FCIP enables data backup and replication cheaply and over longer distances.
- QoS improvements: FCIP can provide a better quality of service than SANs and other applications demand.
FCIP Disadvantages
While FCIP is helpful for long-distance connectivity, it adds more latency than the local Fibre Channel links. This is noticeable since Fibre Channel is designed for high-bandwidth communication, enabling high performance between servers and storage devices.
Moreover, FC data must be secured properly when in transit over IP networks because it is usually sensitive or confidential. Some organizations either use secure IP protocols (like IPsec) or implement FCIP over private networks.