Streamline I/O Management
Respond quickly to changing server and application requirements with the Xsigo I/O Director™, a hardware and software solution that streamlines server I/O management. Instead of deploying multiple I/O cards and cables to every server, Xsigo lets you connect servers with a single cable and then create virtual I/O resources on the fly. The result is 100X faster server management, 70% fewer cables and cards, and up to 50% less capital cost.
Just 30 Seconds to Install New Server I/O
Conventional server I/O limits agility with multiple cards, cables, and switches. Because of numerous interdependencies, even basic management tasks require weeks of coordination among multiple groups. Applications tend to become locked to servers, new applications take weeks to deploy, and utilization suffers.
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The Xsigo I/O Director helps by replacing fixed resources (HBAs and NICs) with easily managed virtual resources (virtual NICs and virtual HBAs) that can be deployed in seconds. Changing a server’s connectivity becomes a 30 second task that can be accomplished from anywhere. Moving connectivity from one server to another can also be done in 30 seconds, with no re-cabling.
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Benefits of the Xsigo I/O Director include:
- Scalable storage and network connectivity
- High-speed, low latency hardware-based design
- Instantly deployable I/O resources
- Persistent I/O identities, even through I/O migration
Open and Easy to Manage
With an open, standards-based architecture, the 4U high Xsigo I/O Director is non-disruptive and simple to integrate.
- Interoperates with your existing servers, storage, and networking equipment
- Transparent to applications, networking, and storage
- Easily managed through CLI or intuitive GUI
- Integrates with existing management frameworks via an open API
Virtualization Technology Comes to Server I/O
Xsigo’s virtual I/O resources operate exactly like traditional server I/O. The physical NICs and HBAs are replaced by virtual resources that appear to the OS and application exactly as their physical counterparts, so they require no application or OS modification. To the network and the SAN resources, they also appear as traditional server I/O, so they can be easily discovered and managed. But unlike traditional I/O, they can be deployed at any time, in seconds, without a server re-boot.
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70% Fewer Physical Cables and Cards
Xsigo simplifies the server connectivity infrastructure by replacing all of the NICs and HBAs found with an inexpensive InfiniBand card (or two cards for redundancy). Each InfiniBand card supplies 10Gb/s of bandwidth that can be dynamically allocated between network and storage requirements. Multiple Ethernet and FibreChannel connections are replaced by a thin, easily routed InfiniBand cable. In a typical deployment, the result is 70% fewer cables and cards.
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How It Works
The Xsigo I/O Director is an open solution designed to interoperate with existing resources, including industry standard servers, operating systems, and networking equipment. Solution elements include:
- Xsigo VP780 I/O Director: Servers connect to the Xsigo I/O Director via 10Gb/s links (24 ports included). The I/O Director connects to the LAN and SAN via Ethernet and Fibre Channel I/O modules.
- Server connectivity: A single 10Gb InfiniBand card in each server provides connectivity to the Xsigo VP780. This card is transparent to the OS and applications.
- I/O Modules: The I/O Director may be configured with up to 15 I/O modules. Available I/O modules include:
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- 1G Ethernet
- 10G Ethernet
- 4G Fibre Channel
- InfiniBand
- SSL offload module
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- Virtual NIC: The vNIC (virtual network interface) resides in the server and appears to the server and the network exactly as a physical NIC. A vNIC can be created on the fly without a server reboot and can be migrated among physical servers. The MAC address remains persistent through a migration, eliminating the need for network re-mapping. Up to 32 vNICs may be created per server.
- Virtual HBA: The vHBA (virtual storage adapter) resides in the server and appears to servers and storage exactly as a physical Fibre Channel HBA. A vHBA can be created on the fly without a server reboot and can be migrated among physical servers. The WWN remains persistent through a migration, eliminating the need for network re-mapping. Up to 32 vHBAs may be created per server.
- Xsigo drivers: The Xsigo driver resides on each server. It creates virtual NICs and HBAs under the control of the Xsigo I/O Director, replacing the standard NIC and HBA drivers.
QoS for Guaranteed Bandwidth
Deliver guaranteed data bandwidth to mission critical applications with Xsigo’s integrated quality of service features. Each virtual Ethernet interface has its own rich set of QoS attributes that manage Shaper and Policer CIR and PIR traffic controls. Applications can be guaranteed predictable service levels for all ingress and egress traffic. QoS parameters can be changed dynamically, as dictated by business and policy requirements.
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