Broadcom Corporation announced a demonstration of iSCSI host bus adapter (HBA) functionality on its 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) controller at Storage Networking World conference.

Broadcom iSCSI HBA functionality has been integrated into its market leading NetXtreme II converged network interface controllers (C-NICs), and is now available for 10 Gigabits per second (Gbps) applications.

Broadcom iSCSI HBA functionality enables on-chip processing of the iSCSI protocol (as well as TCP and IP protocols), which frees up host CPU resources at 10 Gbps line rates and enables an impressive 400,000 IOPS (input/output operations per second) over a single Ethernet port(1) while running on Microsoft® Windows 2008. This functionality provides extended performance benefits that meet the demands of bandwidth intensive applications requiring high-performance block storage input/output (I/O). In addition, Broadcom's 1 GbE C-NIC can deliver an industry-leading performance of 230,000 IOPS utilizing two 1 Gigabit Ethernet ports. Regardless of network speed, Broadcom iSCSI HBA delivers performance benefits not obtainable from alternative solution approaches.

Enterprise networks are well positioned to take advantage of iSCSI functionality since they are built on top of the highly familiar TCP/IP protocols and because of the ubiquity and effectiveness of Ethernet. iSCSI enables storage flexibility as it allows storage content to be accessed from an Ethernet fabric. The increase from 1 Gbps Ethernet to 10 Gbps Ethernet delivers increased storage performance levels not previously achievable and provides sufficient bandwidth to truly become a converging fabric that permits multiple types of high bandwidth protocol traffic to co-exist on the same network. As a result, a server can converge networking and storage onto the same network while lowering the total cost of ownership (TCO), or use a dedicated network for data and for storage, thereby using the same equipment for multiple purposes.

Broadcom's BCM57710 NetXtreme II 10GbE C-NIC will be demonstrated at Storage Networking World 2008 with full iSCSI HBA functionality. Announced in May 2007, the BCM57710 became the industry's first true single-chip, dual-port 10GbE C-NIC specifically designed for high volume servers. Successfully delivering a single-chip C-NIC supporting 10 Gbps rates, with no external memory or an additional dedicated HBA adapter required, the BCM57710 lowers the TCO for iSCSI-based storage networks and provides higher bandwidth and higher performance.

"iSCSI HBA functionality is a key component of our NetXtreme II C-NIC technology because it enables iSCSI storage access in a cost effective manner," said Vinod Lakhani, Senior Director and General Manager of Broadcom's High-Speed Controller line of business. "On-chip iSCSI processing frees up the CPU and allows a new level performance in today's servers, enabling value for both 1GbE and 10GbE networks. Broadcom's ability to provide iSCSI processing in a single-chip, low-power 10 Gbps solution will help accelerate the adoption of 10GbE in enterprise networks."

"HP ProLiant server customers have come to expect unmatched reliability and performance across our portfolio," said John Gromala, Director, ProLiant Product Marketing, HP. "By lowering CPU utilization through iSCSI offload, we are looking forward to reaching new levels of performance across our ProLiant line while helping make storage deployment much more cost effective."

Broadcom Corporation