Fibre Channel (FC) and iSCSI are the two dominant SAN protocols. This guide helps you choose based on performance, cost, and infrastructure requirements.
Protocol Comparison
| Feature | Fibre Channel | iSCSI |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | 16/32/64 Gbps | 1/10/25 Gbps (Ethernet) |
| Latency | Ultra-low | Low (depends on network) |
| Infrastructure | Dedicated FC fabric | Standard Ethernet |
| HBA Required | Yes (FC HBA) | No (software initiator) or 10G NIC |
| Cost | Higher (dedicated switches) | Lower (shared Ethernet) |
| Best For | Tier-1 databases, latency-sensitive | SMB, remote sites, budget |