Ordering Cisco CGR 2010 Module Options

The Cisco Channelized T1/E1 and ISDN PRI Rugged WAN interface card (GRWIC) modules are designed for use with the Cisco 2010 Connected Grid Router (CGR 2010). The Cisco Channelized T1/E1 and ISDN PRI Grid Router WAN Interface Cards (GRWICs) combine multiple T1/E1 WAN connectivity-Channelized T1/E1  and CISCO2821-SAA/K9 Primary Rate Interface (PRI) in the same card. Applications include fractional or full T1/E1 WAN connectivity, ISDN PRI for primary WAN link or WAN backup, and dial access aggregation. The Cisco CGR 2010 supports a one and a two-port version of the T1/E1 module  in a single-wide GRWIC. The different versions help enable customers to deploy different port densities depending on wide area network needs in utility substation locations.

Figure . 1- and 2-Port Channelized T1/E1 and ISDN PRI Rugged WAN Interface Cards (GRWICs)

8-Port Asynchronous/Synchronous Grid Router WAN Interface Card

The 8-Port Asynchronous/Synchronous Grid Router WAN Interface Card (GRWIC) provides low speed synchronous/asynchronous serial connections supporting EIA-RS232 for the Cisco CGR 2010. The 8-port serial RS-232 GRWIC helps customers to enable applications such as legacy protocol transport, console server, and dial access server. Combining a high density serial GRWIC with the Cisco CGR 2010 enables utilities to transport Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) over an IP network

Figure . 8-port Asynchronous/Synchronous GRWIC

Customers have the option to install up to 4 GRWIC modules in the Cisco CGR 2010. CGR 2010 allows any combination of GRWIC modules to be populated in the 4 GRWIC slots on the router. The GRWIC SKUs in Table 10 below can be ordered with the router or as spares.

Cisco Connected Grid Router 2010

The Cisco Connected Grid Router (CGR) 2010 is a rugged router optimized for use in transmission & distribution (T&D) power substations. The Cisco CGR 2010 is designed specifically for substation networks to meet the harsh environments common in transmission & distribution substations. It is built upon the award winning Cisco Integrated Services Router (ISR) G2 portfolio, and provides the substation operator with the benefits of improved security, broadband connectivity, and network reliability. The CGR 2010 uses Cisco IOS software which is the operating system powering millions of Cisco routers deployed worldwide. Cisco IOS software delivers the benefits of integrated security for NERC/CIP compliance, quality of service, and network management to ensure integrity and priority of operational data and non-operational data communications.

The Cisco CGR 2010 builds on the best-in-class offering of the existing Cisco 2900 Series Integrated Services Router G2 (ISR G2) platforms. With embedded hardware encryption acceleration, optional firewall, and intrusion prevention, the CGR-2010 delivers integrated security to help utilities comply with cyber security requirements outlined in the North American Electric Reliability Corporation's (NERC) Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) mandates. In addition, the platform supports T1/E1 WAN interfaces with integrated CSU/DSU interfaces, synchronous & asynchronous serial RS-232 interfaces, copper and fiber Gigabit Ethernet.

Figure 1. Cisco connected Grid Router 2000 Series

Front side:

Cable side:

The CGR 2010 router can be ordered as a base system or as security bundled system. The only difference between the base system and the security bundle is the addition of Security License PAK, all other options remain the same and the configurations and options mentioned in this ordering guide remain the same for both systems.

The Cisco 2010 Connected Grid Router (CGR 2010) base system and security bundle ordering SKUs

Cisco IOS Software

Cisco IOS Software

CGR 2010 delivers innovative technologies running on industry-leading Cisco IOS Software. Developed for wide deployment in the world's most demanding, harsh environments, the CGR 2010 platform is supported on Cisco IOS Software release 15.1T. Release 15.1(1)T provides support for a comprehensive portfolio of Cisco technologies, including the functionality and features delivered in releases 12.4 and 12.4T. New innovations in 15.1(1)T span multiple technology areas, including security, high availability, IP Routing and Multicast, quality of service (QoS), Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), VPNs, and embedded management.

Cisco IOS Software Licensing and Packaging

A single Cisco IOS Universal image encompassing all IOS technology feature sets is delivered with the platforms. You can enable advanced features by activating a software license on the Universal image. Technology packages and feature licenses, enabled through the Cisco software licensing infrastructure, simplify software delivery and decrease the operational costs of deploying new features.

Three major technology licenses are available on the CGR 2010 platform; you can activate the licenses through the Cisco software activation process identified  . The three licenses are as follows:

• IP Base: This technology package is available as default.

• Data

• Security (SEC) or Security with No Payload Encryption (SEC-NPE)

Cisco CGR 2010

Product Overview

The Cisco CGR 2010 builds upon the award winning Integrated Services Routers G2 (ISR G2) platforms to deliver best in class routing, security, management, and network intelligence. With embedded hardware encryption acceleration, optional firewall, and intrusion prevention, the CGR 2010 delivers integrated security to help utilities comply with cyber security requirements such as the North American Electric Reliability Corporation's (NERC) Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) mandates. In addition, the platform supports T1/E1 WAN interfaces with integrated CSU/DSU interfaces, synchronous & asynchronous serial CISCO2821-AA/K9 interfaces, copper and fiber Gigabit Ethernet.

Key Business Benefits

The CGR 2010 is designed for network security, scalability, durability, and investment protection. The modular architecture facilitates upgrades to your substation network without requiring a fork lift upgrade of the routing platform. New modules can be added over time as communications requirements change. Table 1 lists the business benefits of the CGR 2010.

Table 1. Key Business Benefits of the CGR 2010

Benefits	Description
Services integration	• The CGR 2010 offers integrated services including advanced data routing, firewall, traffic shaping, quality of service, & network segmentation
Ruggedized for substation compliance	• Compliant with IEEE1613 and IEC61850-3 substation standards for ruggedization • Natural convection cooled with no moving parts or fans for maximum reliability • Extended EMI and surge protection for protection in substation environments
Services on demand	• A single Cisco IOS Universal Software image is installed on each CGR 2010. The Universal image contains all of the Cisco IOS technology sets which can be activated with a software license. This allows your business to quickly deploy advanced features without downloading a new IOS image. Additionally, larger default memory is included to support the new capabilities.
Network management	• CiscoWorks LMS and Cisco Configuration Profession (CCP) network management tools to help utilities provision and diagnose network issues • Embedded management tools capable of event detection and recovery offered directly in a Cisco IOS Software device. For more information, please see Tables 5 & 6 for details on Cisco network management solutions offered with the CGR 2010

Cisco CGR 2010

Networking Solutions and the Cisco CGR 2010: Substation Automation Example

Substation automation promises to bring more automation and intelligence to the power grid network to address a myriad of utility challenges. Utilities are focused on how to improve grid reliability, enhance network security to meet regulatory requirements, and reduce operational expenses. The Cisco Connected Grid Router & Switch offer utilities a rugged networking solution to enable reliable and secure two-way communication for substation automation. Figure 1 shows a converged end-to-end IP network from the data center to the home. The CGR 2010 and the CGR 2520 are deployed in both transmission and distribution substations. Networking these points of presence provide network operators with greater visibility into grid assets and help identify, isolate and restore outages more efficiently.

Figure . Places in the Network

Primary Cisco CGR 2010 features:

• Rugged industrial design and substation compliance with IEC-61850-3 and IEEE 1613 for utility substation environments

• Integrated security to help utilities address compliance with critical infrastructure protection mandates

• High availability design for maximum network up time and redundancy

• Network and device management tools for deployments, upgrades, and remote monitoring

• Advanced quality of service (QoS) C1861-SRST-F/K9 capabilities to support mission-critical substation communications such as SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition)

Comprehensive network security features based on open standards

Figure 1. Cisco CGR 2010

Networking Solutions and the

Cell-Site Router Redundancy

Used in conjunction with Cisco MWR 1941-DC-A Mobile Wireless Edge Router, the Cisco T1/E1 RAN VWIC supports router redundancy at a cell site while sharing a single T1/E1 Abis/Iub and backhaul links to yield highly available RAN transport. A pair of Cisco MWR 1941-DC-A routers is deployed at the cell site, providing an active and standby router for redundancy. A failure of one Cisco MWR 1941-DC-A router, or a component of the router, causes the standby router to take over as the active router for the cell site. Each pair of Cisco MWR 1941-DC-A routers at the cell site is identical in hardware configuration, and connected to each other through the integrated 100BASE-T interfaces. The individual T1/E1 links to a Cisco MWR 1941-DC-A are cabled from a single T1/E1 termination block in the cell site, connecting to both the active and standby routers utilizing a Y-cable. The redundancy design to control the active/standby transitions of the router pair uses Hot Standby Router Protocol Plus (HSRP+) to control the relays on the Cisco T1/E1 RAN VWIC in each router, which ensures that the relays on the active router are closed and the relays on the standby router are open to avoid double termination of the T1/E1 links.

Depending on the Cisco MWR 1941-DC-A router implementation, the Cisco T1/E1 RAN VWIC can be used in a standalone router or in redundant Cisco MWR 1941-DC-A router configurations. For redundant configurations, a special Y-cable is required to connect the active and standby routers. The Y-cable provides a dual E1 or T1 PRI connection.

The specifications of the Y-cable are: CISCO1841-ADSLI

• Cisco T1/E1 RAN VWIC Y-cables should be made with four twisted-pair, shielded, 28-gauge cables.

• The cable length of each stub (from the RJ-48C connector to the junction point) should not exceed 3 inches (76 mm).

• The cable length from junction point to the patch panel is determined by the customer.

• All signals that propagate in the same direction must share the same twisted pair. For example, RX TIP and RX RING must form a single twisted pair.

• All unused twisted pairs should be cut flush on both ends of the cable. Any unused wire in a twisted pair where one wire is in use should be cut flush at both ends.

Pseudowire Emulation and Mobile Voice/Data Offload

The Cisco IP-based RAN Optimization Solution allows for a variety of backhaul transport media, enabling higher-capacity and lower-cost alternative RAN transport networks for GSM/GPRS/EDGE and UMTS/HSDPA traffic. Higher-speed broadband backhaul media such as DSL and Metro Ethernet are ideally suited for transport of UMTS circuit-switched data and HSDPA data traffic.

The Cisco T1/E1 RAN VWIC terminates UMTS or HSDPA Iub T1/E1s or multiple UMTS or HSDPA Iub T1/E1s as an IMA interface, and processes the data traffic for IP-based optimization and offload onto an alternative RAN backhaul network such as DSL, IEEE 802.16, or Metro Ethernet.

The Cisco T1/E1 RAN VWIC is designed to meet the emerging PWE3 standards for TDM Circuit Emulation over Pseudowires (CEoP) and ATM over Pseudowires (ATMoP). For CEoP, the Cisco T1/E1 RAN VWIC supports standards-compliant Circuit Emulation Services over Packet Switched Network (CESoPSN) and Structure-Agnostic Transport over Packet (SAToP) transport. By enabling CEoP, the Cisco T1/E1 RAN VWIC regards the data as an arbitrary bit stream with no predefined format or structure. All data bits are simply transported to a defined destination encapsulated in MPLS packets. For ATMoP, the Cisco T1/E1 RAN VWIC supports standards-compliant ATM-over-MPLS and ATM-over-L2TPv3 transport. The ATMoP service allows mobile operators to effectively manage the bandwidth at the edges of their transport network while implementing value-added Layer 3 services. Advanced traffic management features, such as per-PVC traffic shaping, can also be used to help ensure that traffic from one customer does not affect traffic from another (Figure 3).

Figure 3. IP-Based Optimization and Offload onto an Alternative RAN Backhaul Network

Optimized RAN transport over IP

The Cisco RAN Optimization solution enables mobile operators to aggregate and transparently transport mixed-generation (2G, 3G, 4G) digital voice and data calls over the existing RAN backhaul network using IP, as well as optimize over the backhaul network to reduce the amount of required backhaul bandwidth by as much as 50 percent and often much more. As a result, the solution reduces existing backhaul transmission costs and enables more cost-efficient deployment of new RAN technologies. The backhaul network is typically the largest operational expense in the mobile operator's network.

The Cisco T1/E1 RAN VWIC terminates GSM Abis T1/E1s, UMTS Iub T1/E1s, and backhaul T1/E1s, and processes the GSM/GPRS/EDGE and UMTS/HSDPA traffic for IP-based optimization over the RAN backhaul transport network. As RAN traffic loads change, the Cisco T1/E1 RAN VWIC used for a GSM Abis T1/E1 can be reused for a UMTS Iub T1/E1. Or as backhaul networks move to high-speed alternative backhaul technologies such as those used for broadband access, a Cisco T1/E1 RAN VWIC used for a backhaul T1/E1 can be reused for a UMTS Iub T1/E1 (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Cisco T1/E1 RAN VWIC Used for a GSM Abis T1/E1 and UMTS Iub T1/E1

Radio Access Network

Today's mobile wireless operators need a flexible Radio Access Network (RAN) to efficiently support multiple generations of radio technologies and quickly adapt as their network characteristics and business needs evolve. And, to remain profitable, operators must reduce operating expenses (OpEx) while expanding their networks and providing new services.

The Cisco RAN Optimization Solution is a comprehensive family of IP-based solutions to optimize RAN architectures. An optimized RAN can significantly reduce OpEx and support new revenue-generating services for both GSM and UMTS mobile wireless operators. The solution includes a bit-transparent technology that integrates smoothly into an existing RAN, providing optimized RAN transport over IP to increase bandwidth efficiency of GSM/GPRS/EDGE and UMTS/HSDPA backhaul transport. The solution also provides cell-site IP points of presence (POPs) to enable profitable new services and applications, and alternative RAN backhaul support to economically transport high-throughput cell-site traffic such as circuit-switched Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service (UMTS) data and High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) traffic.

The Cisco 2-Port T1/E1 Protection Switching RAN VWIC is an integral part of the Cisco RAN Optimization Solution (Figure 1). The Cisco T1/E1 RAN VWIC supports traditional T1/E1 communications and it features advanced processing for applications such as the Cisco RAN Optimization Solution and circuit emulation over packet or standard-based Pseudowire Emulation Edge to Edge (PWE3). For example, the VWIC enables the Cisco MWR 1941-DC-A Mobile Wireless Router's cell-site access platform to perform optimization of delay-sensitive GSM/GPRS/EDGE traffic for efficient and transparent transport over traditional  CISCO1841-ADSL-DG backhaul networks, achieving efficiency gains up to 50 percent and often more, as well as over alternative RAN backhaul networks such as DSL, IEEE 802.16, and Metro Ethernet. With PWE3 support, the Cisco T1/E1 RAN VWIC enables mobile operators to extend their service offering. Operators can use more scalable, more robust Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) networks to provide standards-based circuit emulation services and to carry data streams or protocols that do not meet the format requirements of other multiservice platform interfaces. In addition, the Cisco T1/E1 RAN VWIC supports an extended operating temperature, and features solid-state protection switching relays to support 1:1 cell-site access-platform redundancy for high availability with a custom T1/E1 Y-cable.

Figure . Cisco 2-Port T1/E1 Protection Switching RAN VWIC

ONS 15801 platform

With the Cisco ONS 15800 and ONS 15801 platforms, Cisco offers a network solution that can scale with the rapid growth of the Internet while providing unrivaled reliability. The Cisco ONS 15800 uses Out-of-Band Forward Error Correction (OOBFEC) to yield a significant improvement in Optical Signal-to-Noise Ratio (OSNR) margins over a nonFEC solution. This is a substantial gain that service providers can apply toward additional channels, increased number of spans and span length, or a hybrid of both. Reducing the error rates of long-haul optical transport networks, service providers can establish QoS standards and sell tiered services to their customers. Performance monitoring is crucial to powering an error-free network and provides a standardized approach to address ongoing maintenance issues.

The introduction of the Infra Red (IR) band, also known as L band, allows the Cisco ONS 15800 to double the channel count. Tangible benefits of scaling the capacity of the Cisco ONS 15800 by adding the L band include:

• Capacity upgrades is non-traffic affecting
  
  
• There is no need for tighter channel spacing
  
  
• There is a better channel count on dispersion-shifted fiber
  
  

Service providers who have already exhausted the available C-band capacity or have fiber types that significantly limit capacity in the C band are those who benefit most from the addition of the L band.

The Cisco ONS 15801 DWDM ETSI Platform also provides optical channel protection, through the optical switching unit (OSU). The OSU implements the 1+1 optical protection at channel level in the DWDM system, protecting the client signal from failures within the optical transport domain. The OSU protects a generic client signal independent of the bit rate (622 Mbps, 2.5 Gbps, or 10 Gbps), format protocol, and wavelength (in the range 1300 to 1550 nm). Optical channel protection is particularly beneficial in networks that do not supply protection at client signal, like ATM switches, IP routers, and so on.

The flexible Cisco ONS 15800 and ONS 15801 platforms adapt well to different network architectures such as point-to-point, mesh, star, and ring. An open architecture allows the platforms to be building blocks of both legacy time-division multiplexing (TDM) voice networks and "greenfield" pure-IP networks. The main application is, of course, the long-haul network in the 600-km range, but the platform also provides an efficient solution for multilambda 10-Gbps interoffice transport in the metro core networks.

Key Benefits

The Cisco ONS 15800 and ONS 15801 platforms offer flexibility, scalability, and enhanced performance in an economical design. The Cisco ONS 15800 is built with future growth in mind. Benefits for the service provider include:

• Grow your system by adding modules or subracks for low startup costs
  
  
• Get system flexibility through its multiband architecture (Red and Blue in the C-band and L-band)
  
  
• Increase capacity and improve distance with superior OOBFEC
  
  
• Gain network flexibility with OADM capability at any site
  
  
• Install the platforms easily- because all equipment is pre-cabled in manufacturing
  
  
• Use local craft interface software on PCs
  
  
• Manage network with Cisco Transport Manager

ONS 15800 support

The Cisco ONS 15800 supports up to 64 channels; based on a modular design, it allows service providers to add wavelengths and deploy services as needed, investing in the infrastructure as they generate revenue to support it. This platform accommodates tributaries of STM-4, OC-48/STM-16, and OC-192/STM-64. Multiplexed wavelengths can be transmitted unregenerated up to 600 km (8 spans) through the use of distributed optical amplifiers along the optical route and can reach distances of up to 6000 km adding the Line Extender Modules (LEMs). The integral LEMs eliminate the need for SONET (and SDH) regenerators and consolidate this functionality onto a single plug-in module.
Optical add-drop multiplexer (OADM) is available at each line site. With hardware modules, service providers can add or drop up to four channels per site on the Cisco ONS 15800 and ONS 15801 platforms. Each optical line amplification site can be upgraded to an OADM site (all at the same time, with no limitation) without any decrease in performance.
Integrated, nonintrusive B1 and FEC performance monitoring are available to assure high quality-of-service (QoS) levels and to allow for constant system monitoring of its integral components. The system also features an optical service channel that provides the medium through which the vital system parameters are transmitted to the element management system. The Cisco ONS 15800 and ONS 15801 platforms can be managed through a local craft interface. Being part of the ONS 15000 product family the platforms are managed by Cisco Transport Manager.

DWDM Platforms

The Cisco ONS 15800 Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) Platforms, including the Cisco ONS 15800 DWDM ANSI Platform and the Cisco ONS 15801 DWDM ETSI Platform are field-proven, Internet-scale, carrier-class optical transport systems, with more than 4000 OC-192/STM-64 channels deployed over more than 70,000 route miles. These scalable and economic platforms allow service providers to maximize the use of installed fiber, offering the high-speed, high-capacity transport services that their customers want at competitive prices. In particular, the multiple-band architecture of the Cisco  CISCO1811W-AG-A/K9 allows carriers incomparable flexibility and scalability when deploying applications and additional wavelengths as needed. The modularity of the platform assures both low startup costs and flexibility in operating over all fiber types.





Figure 1
Cisco ONS 15800
Part of the unrivalled Cisco COMET (Complete Optical Multiservice Edge and Transport) product line, the Cisco ONS 15800 architecture allows IP, Asynchronous Transport Mode (ATM), Synchronous Optical Network/Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SONET/SDH) transport and Wavelength services all in a single platform.

Cisco MDS 9000 SAN Extension Software Release

To use the latest Cisco MDS 9000 SAN Extension over IP Package on the Cisco MDS 9000 18/4-Port Multiservice Module or the Cisco MDS 9222i, Cisco MDS 9000 SAN-OS 3.2(1) or later must be installed on a Cisco MDS 9000 Family switch. For the Cisco MDS 9000 16-Port Storage Services Node module, Cisco MDS 9000 NX-OS 4.2(1) or later must be installed on a Cisco MDS 9000 Family switch.

Note: Hardware-based compression and IP Security (IPsec) for FCIP are available only for the Cisco MDS 9000 18/4-Port Multiservice Module, Cisco MDS 9000 16-Port Storage Services Node, and Cisco MDS 9222i.

License Information

This package is licensed on a per-engine, per-module basis. The number of licenses that a customer needs to purchase is equal to the number of engines to be enabled for the feature on the Cisco MDS 9000 16-Port Storage Services Node, or one license per Cisco MDS 9000 18/4-Port Multiservice Module in a switch. The Cisco MDS 9000 SAN Extension license features are enabled by default on the embedded ports on the Cisco MDS 9222i chassis. No additional license is required to use FCIP and FCIP compression on these ports.

Ordering Information

The product numbers associated with this package are:

• M9500EXT12K9= Cisco MDS 9000 Family SAN Extension over IP Package for one MSM in the Cisco MDS 9500 Series

– M9500EXT12K9= Spare

• M9200EXT12K9= Cisco MDS 9000 Family SAN Extension over IP Package for one MSM in the Cisco MDS 9200 Series

– M9200EXT12K9= Spare

• M9500EXT1AK9= Cisco MDS 9000 Family SAN Extension over IP Package for one Cisco MDS 9000 18/4-Port MSM or one Cisco MDS 9000 18/4-Port Multiservice FIPS Module (MSFM) in Cisco MDS 9500 Series

– M9500EXT1AK9= Spare

• M9200EXT1AK9= Cisco MDS 9000 Family SAN Extension over IP Package for one Cisco MDS 9000 18/4-Port MSM or one Cisco MDS 9000 18/4-Port MSFM in Cisco MDS 9200 Series

– M9200EXT1AK9= Spare

• M92EXTSSNK9= Cisco MDS 9000 Family SAN Extension License (1 engine) for the Cisco MDS 9000 16-Port SSN module in the Cisco MDS 9222i, spare

• M95EXTSSNK9= Cisco MDS 9000 Family SAN Extension License (1 engine) for the Cisco MDS 9000 16-Port SSN module in the Cisco MDS 9500 Series, spare

Cisco MDS 9000 SAN Extension

Features:

• Integrated support for Fibre Channel over IP (FCIP): FCIP can be used to connect Fibre Channel SANs across long distances using IP networks. Each Cisco MDS 9000 Family Gigabit Ethernet port can manage up to three FCIP tunnels. The Cisco MDS 9000 18/4-Port Multiservice Module and 16-Port Storage Services Node support up to three FCIP tunnels per port. Without the Cisco MDS 9000 SAN Extension over IP Package, these capabilities would require multiple systems from different vendors.

• Complete integration of the Cisco FCIP implementation with value-added features on the Cisco MDS 9000 Family switches: The Cisco virtual SAN (VSAN) function is supported across FCIP links between SANs. FCIP can be used in conjunction with the Cisco MDS 9000 Family Enterprise Package features such as quality of service (QoS) over a WAN. Use of Virtual Routing Redundancy Protocol (VRRP) increases IP network availability for FCIP connections by allowing failover of connections from one Gigabit Ethernet port to another. Load balancing using PortChannels can also be performed over FCIP links.

• Optimization of the Cisco MDS 9000 NX-OS Software implementation of FCIP: The Cisco NX-OS Software implementation of FCIP on the Cisco MDS 9000 Family products is optimized for wire performance through enhancements that address out-of-order delivery problems, support jumbo frames, provide traffic shaping, and perform TCP optimization.

• FCIP compression: FCIP compression in Cisco MDS 9000 NX-OS increases the effective WAN bandwidth without costly infrastructure upgrades. By integrating data compression in the Cisco MDS 9222i and Cisco MDS 9000 18/4-Port Multiservice Module and 16-Port Storage Services Node modules, more efficient FCIP-based business-continuity and disaster-recovery solutions can be implemented without the need to add and manage a separate device. Gigabit Ethernet ports on the Cisco MDS 9000 Family products can achieve up to a 43:1 compression ratio, with typical ratios of 4:1 over a wide variety of data sources.

• Inter-VSAN Routing (IVR) for FCIP: IVR allows selective transfer of data traffic between specific initiators and targets on different VSANs without the need to merge VSANs into a single logical fabric. IVR can be used in conjunction with FCIP to increase the resiliency of SAN extension over IP networks and create more efficient business-continuity and disaster-recovery solutions. IVR for FCIP is included in the Cisco MDS 9000 SAN Extension over IP Package. To use IVR for Fibre Channel, the Cisco MDS 9000 Family Enterprise Package is required.

• FCIP write acceleration: FCIP write acceleration significantly improves application performance when storage traffic is routed over WANs using FCIP. When FCIP write acceleration is enabled, WAN throughput is increased, and writes I/O latency is decreased by reducing the effects of WAN latency.

• FCIP tape acceleration: Centralizing tape backup and archive operations provides significant cost saving by allowing expensive robotic tape libraries and high-speed drives to be shared. This sharing poses a challenge for remote backup media servers that need to transfer data across a WAN. High-performance streaming tape drives require a  continuous flow of data to avoid write data underruns, which dramatically reduce write throughput. Without FCIP tape acceleration, the effective WAN throughput for remote tape backup decreases exponentially as the WAN latency increases. Cisco MDS 9000 DWDM-XFP-47.72= tape acceleration helps achieve near-full throughput over WAN links for remote tape backup operations.

• SAN extension tuner: To help optimize FCIP performance, the SAN extension tuner generates Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) I/O commands that are directed to a specific virtual target. It reports the number of I/O operations per second and I/O latency results, which helps determine the number of concurrent I/O operations needed to increase FCIP throughput.

Software Release

Cisco MDS 9000

Intelligent Scalability

The Cisco MDS 9000 Family offers industry-leading port density, scaling from 4 to 528 ports per chassis. Using the Cisco 4-Port 10-Gbps Fibre Channel Switching Module, up to 44 10-Gbps ports can be integrated into a single chassis, and 132 ports can be integrated into a single 42-unit rack. Because building a large-scale storage network requires more than just high port density, Cisco Systems has introduced innovative features that make multilayer storage networks a reality. VSANs, Inter-VSAN Routing (IVR), advanced traffic management, hardware-enabled serviceability, and comprehensive security features make the Cisco MDS 9000 Family the platform of choice for businesses requiring high scalability and low TCO.

Virtual SANs

Ideal for efficient, secure SAN consolidation, VSANs allow more efficient storage network utilization by creating hardware-based isolated environments within a single physical SAN fabric or switch. Each VSAN can be zoned as a typical SAN and maintains its own fabric services for added scalability and resilience. VSANs allow the cost of SAN infrastructure to be shared among more users, while ensuring absolute segregation of traffic and retaining independent control of configuration on a VSAN-by-VSAN basis.

Integrated SAN Routing

In another step toward deploying the most efficient, cost-effective, consolidated storage networks, the Cisco MDS 9000 Family 4-Port 10-Gbps Fibre Channel Switching Modules also support IVR routing functionality for Fibre Channel. IVR allows selective transfer of data traffic between specific initiators and targets on different VSANs while maintaining isolation of control traffic within each VSAN. With IVR, data can transit VSAN boundaries while maintaining control plane isolation, thereby maintaining fabric stability and availability. Integrated IVR eliminates the need for external routing appliances, greatly increasing routing scalability while delivering line-rate routing performance, simplifying management, and eliminating the challenges associated with maintaining separate systems. Integrated IVR means lower total cost of SAN ownership.

Integrated Mainframe Support

The Cisco 4-Port 10-Gbps Fibre Channel Switching Module is mainframe ready, with full support for IBM zSeries FICON and Linux environments. Qualified by IBM for attachment to all FICON-enabled devices in an IBM zSeries operating environment, the module supports transport of the FICON protocol in cascaded fabrics, as well as intermix of FICON and open systems Fibre Channel Protocol (FCP) on the same switch. VSANs simplify intermix of SAN resources between z/OS, mainframe Linux, and open systems environments, allowing for increased SAN utilization and simplified SAN management. VSAN-based intermix mode eliminates the uncertainty and instability often associated with zoning-based intermix techniques. VSANs also greatly reduce the probability of a misconfiguration or component failure in one VSAN affecting operation in other VSANs. VSAN-based management access control simplifies partitioning of SAN management responsibilities between mainframe and open systems environments, enhancing security. FICON VSANs can be managed using the integrated Cisco Fabric Manager; the Cisco command-line interface (CLI); or IBM CUP-enabled management tools, including IBM SA/390, Resource Measurement Facility (RMF), or Dynamic Channel Path Management (DCM).

4-Port 10-Gbps Fibre Channel Key Features

The Cisco MDS 9000 Family 4-Port 10-Gbps Fibre Channel Switching Module offers the following features:

• Fibre channel standard 10-Gbps interfaces-Provide high Fibre Channel switching performance for ISLs and inter-data center connection over a metro optical infrastructure.

• High-performance ISLs-Support up to 16 links in a single PortChannel; links can span any speed-matched ports on any module within a chassis for added scalability and resilience. Up to 4095 buffer-to-buffer credits can be assigned to a single Fibre Channel port, providing industry leading extension of storage networks up to 800 kilometers at 10 Gbps while maintaining full link bandwidth.

• Intelligent network services-Provide integrated support for VSAN technology, access control lists (ACLs) for hardware-based intelligent frame processing, and advanced traffic-management features such as Fibre Channel Congestion Control (FCC) and fabric-wide quality of service (QoS) to enable migration from SAN islands to enterprise-wide storage networks.

• Integrated hardware-based VSANs and Inter-VSAN Routing (IVR)-Enables deployment of large-scale multisite and heterogeneous SAN topologies. Integration into port-level hardware allows any port within a system or fabric to be partitioned into any VSAN. Integrated hardware-base inter-VSAN routing provides line-rate routing between any ports within a system or fabric without the need for external routing appliances.

• Advanced FICON features-In cascaded FICON fabrics, the Cisco 10-Gbps Fibre Channel Switching Module supports 10-Gbps ISL connections on individual ports or up to 160-Gbps logical ISLs using the Cisco PortChannel feature. VSAN-enabled trunking allows reliable transmission of intermixed mainframe and open systems traffic across ISL links. Integrated CUP support enables in-band management of Cisco MDS 9000 Family switches from the mainframe management console.

• Comprehensive security framework-Supports RADIUS and TACACS+, Fibre Channel Security Protocol (FC-SP), Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP), Secure Shell (SSH) Protocol, and Simple Network Management Protocol Version 3 (SNMPv3) implementing Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), VSANs, hardware-enforced zoning, ACLs, and per-VSAN role-based access control.

• Sophisticated diagnostics-Provide intelligent diagnostics, protocol decoding, and network analysis tools as well as integrated Call Home capability for added reliability, faster problem resolution, and reduced service costs.

• 10-Gbps port density-Enables integration of up to 44 10-Gbps ports in a single switch and 132 ports per rack.

Cisco 4-Port 10-Gbps Fibre Channel

The Cisco MDS 9000 Family 4-Port 10-Gbps Fibre Channel Switching Module delivers uncompromising performance with 10-Gbps link bandwidth, 80 Gbps of continuous aggregate bandwidth per module, and the intelligence and advanced features required to make multilayer storage area networks (SANs) a reality. Delivering over five times the effective link bandwidth of 2-Gbps Fibre Channel products, the Cisco 4-Port 10-Gbps Fibre Channel Switching Module includes hardware-enabled innovations designed to dramatically improve performance, scalability, availability, security, and manageability of storage networks, resulting in increased utility and lower total cost of ownership (TCO).

The Cisco 4-Port 10-Gbps Fibre Channel Switching Module is hot-swappable and includes hot-swappable, X2 form-factor pluggable, SC type interfaces. Individual ports can be configured with short-wave or long-wave X2 optical transceivers for connectivity up to 10 kilometers. Up to 250 buffer credits per port are supported for maximum extensibility without requiring additional licensing. With the optional Cisco Enterprise Package, up to 4095 buffer credits can be allocated to an individual port, enabling full link bandwidth over thousands of kilometers with no degradation in link utilization. Ultrahigh per-port bandwidth makes the Cisco 4-Port 10-Gbps Fibre Channel Switching Module ideal for Inter-Switch Link (ISL) connectivity, both within the data center and between data centers across metro optical networks.

With its multiprotocol capability, the Cisco 4-Port 10-Gbps Fibre Channel Switching Module easily integrates IBM Fiber Connection (FICON) protocol, FICON Control Unit Port (CUP) management, and switch cascading to facilitate mainframe connectivity. Virtual SANs (VSANs) allow hardware-based separation of Fibre Channel and FICON traffic switched on a single physical SAN, increasing overall TCO without compromising scalability, availability, manageability, and network security.

The Cisco MDS 9000 Family 4-Port 10-Gbps Fibre Channel Switching Module is compatible all MDS 9500 Series Multilayer Directors as well as MDS DWDM-XFP-50.92= and MDS 9216i multilayer fabric switches providing outstanding value and investment protection. Figure 1 shows a Cisco MDS 9000 Family 4-Port 10-Gbps Fibre Channel Switching Module.

Figure 1. Cisco MDS 9000 Family 4-Port 10-Gbps Fibre Channel Switching Module

Integrated Network Services

Cisco MDS 9000 Family intelligent fabric applications provide a level of integration with intelligent SAN services that is unavailable to host based virtualization and storage solutions. The Cisco MDS 9000 Family platform with the integrated Cisco Storage Services Module delivers the intelligence and advanced features required to make multilayer, intelligent SANs a reality, including hardware-enabled innovations that dramatically improve scalability, availability, security, and manageability of storage networks-resulting in increased utility and lower total cost of ownership (TCO).

Multiprotocol Intelligence

The Cisco MDS 9000 Family multiprotocol platform is designed for cost-optimized, high-performance, and highly available storage networks. It uses disk pooling, replication, data migration, continuous data protection, and Network-Accelerated Serverless Backup that is enabled through the Cisco MDS 9000 Family Storage Services Module. With support of the IETF standard Small Computer System Interface over IP (iSCSI) protocol over Ethernet, and Fibre Channel over IP (FCIP), intelligent fabric applications using the Cisco MDS 9000 Family platform can take full advantage of SAN extension and cost-effective connectivity. Organizations can provide virtualization and storage services to clients attached either directly through Fibre Channel or by using the iSCSI protocol for cost-effective connectivity to shared storage pools. The Cisco MDS 9000 Family FCIP capability simplifies deployment of virtualization and storage services over extended distances, eliminating the need for separate channel-extension devices. The Cisco MDS 9000 Family platform is designed to support future storage protocols so that users can migrate to new technologies while retaining a consistent set of features, services, and management tools.

Virtual SANs and IVR Enhance SAN Security and Stability

Virtual SANs (VSANs) allow more efficient SAN utilization by creating hardware-based isolated environments within a single physical fabric or switch. Each VSAN can be zoned as a typical SAN and each maintains its own network services for added scalability and resilience. VSANs allow the cost of SAN infrastructure to be shared among more users, while helping ensure absolute segregation of traffic and retaining independent control of configuration on a VSAN-by-VSAN basis. VSANs provide a protective barrier between application hosts (host VSANs) and physical storage (disk VSANs), enhancing data integrity in a virtualized storage environment.

The Cisco MDS 9000 Family Storage Services Module supports Inter-VSAN Routing, the industry's first routing function for Fibre Channel. Inter-VSAN Routing allows selective transfer of data traffic between specific initiators and targets on different VSANs while maintaining isolation of control traffic within each VSAN. With Inter-VSAN Routing, data can transit VSAN boundaries while maintaining control-plane isolation, thereby maintaining network stability and availability

Cisco MDS 9000 Family

Network-Assisted Storage Applications

SANTap is a protocol between a Cisco MDS 9000 Family switch and an appliance that allows the appliance to get an I/O copy for data replication, continuous data protection and data migration without impacting the integrity, availability, and performance of the primary I/O between servers and storage. Thus, customers can deploy network-assisted storage applications without having appliances residing in the primary data path. SANTap reduces implementation risk by facilitating gradual introduction of services for staging.

Easy insertion and provisioning of appliance-based storage applications is achieved by eliminating the service disruption caused by inserting appliances in-band. SANTap also reduces or eliminates host-side agents and makes appliance-based storage applications work across heterogeneous operating systems without creating a separate agent for each OS.

SANTap offers deployment flexibility and investment protection by enabling appliance-based storage application for any server or storage device in the SAN without rewiring. Moreover, multiple appliance-based storage applications can be concurrently added to servers and storage.

In addition, SANTap provides a scalability solution for appliance-based storage applications by allowing for distribution of workload to multiple appliances based on application and source-and-target combinations. The following storage applications intend to take advantage of these benefits:

• Kashya KBX5000

• Topio TDPS Fabric Edition

• Xiotech TimeScale™ Replication Appliance

• FalconStor IPStor with SANTap Option

Network-Hosted Storage Applications

The Cisco MDS 9000 Family network-hosted storage applications architecture overcomes the inherent bottlenecks associated with other virtualization architectures. Virtualization performance can be easily scaled to the level required by even the largest organizations. Simply adding Cisco MDS 9000 Family Storage Services Modules adds virtualization performance and host connectivity in increments of 32 ports. Because Cisco MDS 9000 Family network-hosted storage applications are switch-based, any host can access any virtual volume from anywhere in the fabric, independent of the host's attachment point in the storage area network (SAN). In addition to virtualization services, the Cisco MDS 9000 Family Storage Services Module takes advantage of all of the Fibre Channel features and services offered by other Cisco MDS 9000 Family Switching Modules, and all of the advanced SAN-OS features available on the Cisco MDS 9000 Family platform-simplifying security, diagnostics, and management. With hosts and storage devices connecting anywhere in the network, virtualization provides a single point of management, transparent data mobility and migration, improved storage utilization, and a single set of copy services across heterogeneous storage. The Cisco Storage Services Module hosts EMC Invista

Cisco MDS 9000 Family Storag

The Cisco MDS 9000 Family Storage Services Module (Figure 1) includes the following features:

• Fibre Channel switching

• Fibre Channel Write Acceleration (FC-WA) and Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) flow-statistics monitoring

• Network-Accelerated Serverless Backup with standards-based  DWDM-XFP-54.13= COPY command.

• Network-Assisted Storage Applications with the SANTap protocol

• Network-Hosted Storage Applications with the Fabric Application Interface Standard (FAIS)-based Intelligent Storage Application Programmatic Interface (ISAPI)

Figure 1. Cisco MDS 9000 Family Storage Services Module

KEY FEATURES AND BENEFITS

Fibre Channel Switching

Includes 32 ports of Fibre Channel switching so no compromise between port density and I/O performance is necessary.

Fibre Channel Write Acceleration

Designed for synchronous data replication, FC-WA reduces the effective latency between data centers to dramatically enhance the performance and/or increase the distance of synchronous data-replication deployments. Additionally, with the embedded SCSI flow services, SCSI flows are monitored for statistics gathering.

Network-Accelerated Serverless Backup

The Cisco Storage Services Module provides a high-speed network-accelerated serverless backup interface through SCSI-2 EXTENDED COPY to allow backup and recovery applications to use the network for the data movement, without changing the existing backup environment. The I/O and processing is offloaded from the media server, resulting in more efficient backups, fewer media servers, and reduced server and administration tasks.

Specifications Cisco MDS 9000

Minimum Software Requirements

• Cisco MDS 9000 SAN-OS Software Release 3.2(1)

Performance and Port Configurations

• Port speed: 4-, 2-, and 1-Gbps  autosensing with 4 Gbps of dedicated bandwidth per port and 10 Gbps of dedicated bandwidth for 10-Gbps ports

• Buffer credits: Up to 64 for a group of 4 ports, with a default of 16 buffer credits per port for the 4-Gbps ports and 64 buffer credits per 10-Gbps port

• Ports per chassis: Up to 32 4-Gbps ports and 2 10-Gbps ports

– Base configuration with 24 ports

– Additional ports in 8-port increment with the port activation license for 4-Gbps ports

– Two 10-Gbps ports with the 10-Gbps port license

• PortChannel: Up to 16 ports in a PortChannel DWDM-XFP-56.55=

Security

• VSANs

• Zoning

– Hardware-enforced zoning

– Logical-unit-number (LUN) zoning and read-only zones

• FC-SP for host-to-switch and switch-to-switch authentication

• Port security

• Management access

– SSHv2

– SNMPv3

– IP ACLs