FCoE Cookbook for HP Virtual Connect Version 4.20 Firmware Enhancements May 2014

Figure 1: Dual Hop FCoE Design

Virtual Connect

(FIP Snooping)

Server

Storage

Array

Native FC

Dual-Hop FCoE

FCoE

Forwarder

FCoE

Multi Hop FCoE technology can also be used to extend convergence beyond the external FCoE device. Multi Hop FCoE

means there are more than two FCoE ‘hops’ between the server and the conversion point from FCoE to FC. This extended

convergence design offers more flexibility and capital/operational cost savings.

SAN

LAN

FCoE

However given the critical nature of storage networking and its central importance to the integrity of the end-to-end

data center architecture, customers should carefully evaluate the implications of Multi Hop solutions when considering

more extensive FCoE deployments.