14 DAY TRIAL // Intel announced the free availability of their software initiator package to support development of Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) technology. The company has released Fibre Channel over Ethernet source code for Linux. The FcoE is still under ratification, but this is alleged to allow Fibre Channel SANs traffic to run over Ethernet, and thus simplifying the network infrastructure inside a datacenter.
"Server virtualization, database growth and compliance requirements have created a greater need for network storage," said Pat Gelsinger, senior vice president and general manager of Intel's Digital Enterprise Group. "FCoE makes it easier and less expensive to connect servers to the SAN. We're taking a leadership role by releasing this stack and supporting industry standardization efforts. We expect the open source community to use this initiator stack to create reliable, standards-based FCoE solutions for their customers."
The source code is available on the Open FCoE website and can be used under the terms of the GPLv2 license. Intel has also included a target simulator that will allow Linux developers modify the FCoE software stack.
Cisco Systems is Intel's partner in this initiative and has submitted the FCoE proposal back in April this year. Intel is interested in working with the other members of Fibre Channel standards body - T11 - for achieving a working model of the FcoE.
"Fiber Channel over Ethernet will be a key capability for our customers offering seamless server and storage access in the data center," said Jayshree Ullal, senior vice president of the Data Center, Switching and Services Group at Cisco Systems. "The emergence of 10 Gigabit Ethernet bandwidth combined with Cisco's proposed extensions to Ethernet, enables a lossless and resilient fabric for Data Center I/O consolidation. Cisco is pleased to see Intel taking a leadership role in FcoE."
The FcoE code is based on the specifications developed by the Fibre Channel standards body and is alleged to be ready until 2009.