Building Sans with Brocade Fibre Channel Fabric Switches

by Chris Beauchamp and Syngress

Brocade switches provide the intelligent architecture that connects Storage Area Networks (SANs) to Local Area Networks and Wide Area Networks. Brocade switches provide the same functionality to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 192899430X
• ISBN13: 9781928994305
• Release Date: October 2001
• Publisher: Syngress Publishing
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 2.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 7.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

A must for passing Brocade Certified Exam

This book is a primer for passing BCFP and BCSD. It contains very useful information and very readable. With this book and the references below, I was 80% ready for the BCSD exam, the other 20% being work experience. The other references are from www.BrocadeConnect.com (free access with a sign-in account) : Home > Technical Resource Center > Documentation Library > Technical "How To" Guides > <br />The main reference: <br />* Brocade SilkWorm Design, Deployment, and Management Guide Version 3.0 (PDF, 7.26 MB) <br /> <br />And for those short on experience, it will be useful to comb thru: <br /># Brocade Guide to Understanding Zoning (PDF, 301.81 KB) <br /># Brocade PortlogDump Reference Guide Version 1.0 (PDF, 1.71 MB) <br /># Brocade SilkWorm Multiprotocol Router SAN Design Guide Version 1.0 (PDF, 9.83 MB) <br /># Cable Management Guidelines Version 1.0 (PDF, 1.49 MB) <br /># Fabric Watch Guidelines Version 1.0 (PDF, 925.01 KB) <br /># LAN Guidelines For Brocade SilkWorm Switches (PDF, 920.8 KB) <br /># Long-distance Technologies for Storage Area Networks Version 2.0 (PDF, 130.1 KB) <br /># SAN Migration Guide Version 1.1 (PDF, 2.63 MB) <br /># SAN Security Best Practices Guide (PDF, 6.84 MB) <br /> <br />Having gone thru the experience of going in blindly for the BCSD exam, I thought I would help the initiated by providing more info: <br />1) There are 65 questions, to be completed within 90 minutes. Honestly I barely have time to finish all. Tip is to skip those you are unsure and return later. <br />2) The question's format consists of multiple choices, multiple answers, exhibits to click on. <br />3) I believe you need 70% to pass, at least for my case. <br />The 4 Sections examined are: <br />* Define SAN requirements/Interview End User <br />* Create a successful SAN design to suite requirements <br />* Implement SAN solutions <br />* Understand Impact of a SAN design upon Management <br /> <br />Wish y'all all the best :-)

You have to own this book if you run a Brocade SANs

All of our field engineers carry a copy of this book. It is straightforward and is really the only resource out there other than the documentation and the Brocade web site.

Exceptional book on SANs/Brocade

This is by far the best book available on SAN design, and it is the only book that goes into specifics on configuring Brocade products, which is incredibly importnat considering their products are the most common. I found the generic SAN stuff increbibly useful and the Brocade specific stuff invaluable. I'm not sure what the 1-star reviews are about. I guess those guys know everything.

Great Brocade Reference - Nice general reference

I have read every SAN book out there and am working on one of my own (watch for a new book from O'Reilly later this year/ early next), and this particular book gets my highest recommendation. Yes, there is a strong bias toward Brocade equipment, but most SANs are based on Brocade switches and Brocade is leading many aspects of the fibre channel switching market. The most unique feature of this book is the fibre channel troubleshooting section. The only critique I can offer is that SANs are not just about fibre channel switching. There is a lot to understand about software applications, the sub-components of the SAN, storage devices, the role of NAS and alternative file serving technologies on the SAN, etc. Some of these topics are mentioned, but not really addressed at a meaningful level. However, to be fair to the authors, the book does not promise a comprehensive overview of SANs and it fully delivers on the promise of the title. In short, this is the only book I have read that offers specific meaningful advice on the implementation and management of a SAN. It will be essential reading in my company.

Great Book!

I just finished reading this book, and I highly recommend it for anyone doing SAN design or implementation. The book clearly explains all of the different topology options and details all of the complexities of the insallations and provides an entire chapter on toubleshooting (incredibly useful).