Silkworm Multiprotocol Router
	Brocade FC-FC Routing Service Brocade FCIP Tunneling Service Brocade iSCSI Gateway Service

The Brocade SilkWorm Multiprotocol Router provides a unique platform for hosting multiprotocol routing services that increase SAN connectivity options and improve resource utilization. By integrating multiple services in a central platform, the Multiprotocol Router helps provide a flexible foundation for implementing a utility computing infrastructure and efficient Information Lifecycle Management (ILM) within a familiar Brocade SAN environment. As a result, it is an ideal solution for improving operational efficiency while maximizing the value of both current and future SAN investments.

Multiprotocol Routing Services
Brocade multiprotocol routing services provide new options for extending SAN benefits over multiple networks, to larger SAN sizes, and across longer distances. The primary advantage of this approach is the ability to interconnect devices between SAN fabrics without merging those fabrics—thereby providing a more secure and flexible storage networking foundation. A key aspect of this approach is the unprecedented capability to configure SAN protocols on a port-by-port basis within the Multiprotocol Router.

These services include:

FC-FC Routing Service for Increased Connectivity
The FC-FC Routing Service enables devices located in separate SAN fabrics to establish communication without requiring the fabrics to merge into a single large SAN. By using this service, organizations can interconnect devices without having to redesign or reconfigure their entire environment. Organizations can connect physically separate SANs into Logical Private SANs (LSANs) in a seamless manner. These LSANs are ideal for:

• Simplifying SAN design, implementation, and management
• Providing a seamless way to share resources across multiple SANs without the complexity of physically merging those SANs
• Creating a more unified SAN environment with easier interconnection and support for SANs and SAN resources deployed for different purposes

FCIP Tunneling Service for SAN Extension over Distance
The FCIP Tunneling Service enables organizations to extend their Fibre Channel SANs over distances that would be impractical or expensive with native Fibre Channel links, or in situations where dark fiber links would be impractical but in which IP WAN connectivity already exists. Deploying FCIP on the Multiprotocol Router is more flexible and cost-effective than an external gateway. As a result, organizations have a more manageable way to securely share resources across geographical boundaries and implement reliable business continuance solutions.

iSCSI Gateway Service for Sharing SAN Resources with iSCSI Servers
The iSCSI Gateway Service enables organizations to integrate low-cost Ethernet-connected servers into Brocade Fibre Channel SANs by bridging the iSCSI protocol to the Fibre Channel protocol. This capability allows iSCSI servers to leverage shared SAN resources, improving asset utilization and enabling new applications such as centralized backup. This integration greatly reduces the cost of connecting servers to centrally managed storage and helps provide a cost-effective solution to introduce utility computing into the enterprise.

Flexible Services for a Range of Business Needs
Brocade multiprotocol routing services support a wide variety of business solutions, including:

• Device connectivity across multiple SANs
• Tape backup consolidation
• Long-distance SAN extension for business continuance
• Low-cost server connectivity to SAN resources

SAN Standards Compliance - Software
Brocade's products conform to SAN standards in a manner consistent with accepted engineering practices and procedures.