15 June 2011

Download Considerations for congestion notification in FCoE networks

Summary

• QCN does in fact have value in specific large Layer 2 Ethernet Networks with specific traffic behavior. Small flows contribute very little to congestion.
• For FCoE networks, QCN is definitely NOT needed in a hop-by-hop FCF environment and will provide NO benefits in most of today’s Data Center designs.
• Multi-hop devices interconnected with FCoE ISLs at 10 Gigabit Ethernet (or 40 or 100 in the future) will allow FCoE scalability and most probably will not required larger span compared to Fibre Channel networks we have today.
• From a network design perspective, where is the congestion going to happen and from a Fibre Channel point of view, is it going to happen?