iSCSI SAN design

iSCSI runs block storage over ordinary Ethernet, which is why it is the most common SAN protocol in mid-size businesses. It is also the one most often misconfigured: storage traffic mixed with user traffic, a single switch, no multipathing.

We build iSCSI networks the same way every time: two isolated paths, no routing, jumbo frames end to end, MPIO on every host and a failover test before go-live.

At a glance

What RackLedge does

• Network design and switch configuration
• Host initiator setup and path verification
• Performance testing and latency baselines

How we work

Storage projects begin with an honest capacity and performance baseline: how much data, how fast it grows, what IOPS and latency the applications actually need. That baseline decides between an entry SAN, a unified array, a NAS or a hyper-converged design, and it keeps vendors from selling you the biggest box.

We build the network under the storage as carefully as the storage itself: isolated iSCSI paths or dual FC fabrics, multipathing on every host and a failover test before anything goes live. Backups get an immutable copy and a restore test on a schedule.

Migrations are run as projects with a written cutover plan, a rollback path and a validation checklist. Old arrays are decommissioned with certified data destruction and the documentation is handed over.

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