A low cost SAN is low cost whether it uses IP, SAS, or FC. That said, iSCSI (the most prevalent IP block storage protocol) is typically capable of providing the same number of IO/s as the other protocols, but has lower throughput per host side connection. For most applications performance is similar across protocols. For an application with primarily random reads (or writes), no matter the protocol, using the faster 15K disks is recommended. For most general purpose applications 7200RPM SATA drives will suffice -- sequential reads and writes. Here are your options by a range of vendor alphabetically (please note- original author is only listing major vendors, but other community members will fill out the list as needed): <b>Dell</b>: Dell MD3000i; Dell/EMC AX4; Dell EqualLogic PS series <b>EMC</b>: CLARiiON AX4 <b>HP</b>: <b>IBM</b>: DS3300 <b> Lefthand Networks/[b] <b> StoneFly [/b]ISC, HSC, and OptiSAN Product Families <b>Here are some resources that your Research Assistant, Margaret Rouse, found for you.</b> If you're interested in providing IP SAN services to SMBs, you'll need to educate potential customers about the value proposition that IP SAN technology can bring them, and then put in place a portfolio of IP SAN services while working with the vendors that can help your cause. <a href="http://searchstoragechannel.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid98_gci1280389,00.html?offer=wira">http://searchstoragechannel.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid98_gci1280389,00.html?offer=wira</a> When should a VAR recommend IP storage to a customer? What are the benefits that making the switch will have for the customer and the VAR? <a href="http://searchstoragechannel.techtarget.com/expert/KnowledgebaseAnswer/0,289625,sid98_gci1265446,00.html?offer=wira">http://searchstoragechannel.techtarget.com/expert/KnowledgebaseAnswer/0,289625,sid98_gci1265446,00.html?offer=wira</a> Today's midsize enterprises face the daunting challenge of managing growing volumes of data - and struggle to find ways to do this effectively with constrained budgets and limited staffing resources. But recent advances in IP-based storage technology have made it possible for businesses of all sizes to leverage existing technology and staffing resources to easily and cost-effectively build and maintain sophisticated storage networks. <a href="http://searchitchannel.bitpipe.com/detail/RES/1180010022_911.html?src-wira">http://searchitchannel.bitpipe.com/detail/RES/1180010022_911.html?src-wira</a></b></b>

A low cost SAN is low cost whether it uses IP, SAS, or FC. That said, iSCSI (the most prevalent IP block storage protocol) is typically capable of providing the same number of IO/s as the other protocols, but has lower throughput per host side connection. For most applications performance is similar across protocols. For an application with primarily random reads (or writes), no matter the protocol, using the faster 15K disks is recommended. For most general purpose applications 7200RPM SATA drives will suffice -- sequential reads and writes. Here are your options by a range of vendor alphabetically (please note- original author is only listing major vendors, but other community members will fill out the list as needed): <b>Dell</b>: Dell MD3000i; Dell/EMC AX4; Dell EqualLogic PS series <b>EMC</b>: CLARiiON AX4 <b>HP</b>: <b>IBM</b>: DS3300 <b> Lefthand Networks/[b] <b> StoneFly [/b]ISC, HSC, and OptiSAN Product Families <b>Here are some resources that your Research Assistant, Margaret Rouse, found for you.</b> If you're interested in providing IP SAN services to SMBs, you'll need to educate potential customers about the value proposition that IP SAN technology can bring them, and then put in place a portfolio of IP SAN services while working with the vendors that can help your cause. <a href="http://searchstoragechannel.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid98_gci1280389,00.html?offer=wira">http://searchstoragechannel.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid98_gci1280389,00.html?offer=wira</a> When should a VAR recommend IP storage to a customer? What are the benefits that making the switch will have for the customer and the VAR? <a href="http://searchstoragechannel.techtarget.com/expert/KnowledgebaseAnswer/0,289625,sid98_gci1265446,00.html?offer=wira">http://searchstoragechannel.techtarget.com/expert/KnowledgebaseAnswer/0,289625,sid98_gci1265446,00.html?offer=wira</a> Today's midsize enterprises face the daunting challenge of managing growing volumes of data - and struggle to find ways to do this effectively with constrained budgets and limited staffing resources. But recent advances in IP-based storage technology have made it possible for businesses of all sizes to leverage existing technology and staffing resources to easily and cost-effectively build and maintain sophisticated storage networks. <a href="http://searchitchannel.bitpipe.com/detail/RES/1180010022_911.html?src-wira">http://searchitchannel.bitpipe.com/detail/RES/1180010022_911.html?src-wira</a></b></b>