Deploying a converged network with 10 Gigabit Ethernet simplifies networking by carrying Local Area Network (LAN) and Fibre Channel Storage Area Network (SAN) traffic over a single wire. The converged network simplifies port management, allowing hosts to connect to a LAN and SAN using a converged network adapter. The Convergenomics™ of the simplified infrastructure results in up to:

• 28% reduction in adapters, switch ports and rack space
• 80% reduction in cables
• 42% reduction in power and cooling costs

Leveraging Emulex OneConnect Universal CNA offloads for TCP/IP, iSCSI and Fibre Channel traffic frees up the host processor to run mission-critical applications and support higher virtualization ratios.

Convergence complements virtual server deployments and allows IT organizations to dynamically respond to changing business demands through rapid provisioning of compute, storage and network resources.

Emulex OneConnect Universal CNAs offload network processing from the server, enabling more VMs per server. Advanced virtualization features allow bandwidth allocation based on individual VMs to give data centers the flexibility they need to optimize server consolidation.

Fibre Channel is the predominant storage protocol deployed by enterprise data centers. Deploying a converged network with the next-generation OneConnect Universal CNA framework can build on existing Fibre Channel SAN investments and add support for iSCSI block storage, plus NFS and CIFS file storage with high-performance 10GbE links.

One of the key advantages of OneConnect is support for in-field enablement of storage protocols for baseline OneConnect network adapters. This "pay-as-you-go" option allows you to choose a solution that gives you the power of convergence when and where you need it. As a result, network convergence technology does not require a rip-and-replace strategy. It can be rolled out in phases according to the timelines decided by individual organizations. It can also be used to drive consolidation with new server deployments without affecting the existing server and storage infrastructure or the processes required to manage and support existing applications.

Environmental regulations across the world are requiring data centers to be designed optimally for maximum energy efficiency and minimum environmental impact. Deploying converged networks in the data center reduces the power consumption in data center networks, maximizes cooling efficiency and minimizes the data center footprint—all of which helps to achieve a green data center.

In addition, OneConnect Universal CNAs offload I/O processing, which directly translates into more virtual machines for virtualized servers and improved data center energy efficiency.

The Emulex OneCommand™ Manager application enables management of multiple protocols throughout the data center from a centralized management console. OneConnect Manager for VMware vCenter provides an integrated solution with management and diagnostic capabilities for data centers using ESX/ESXi 4.0 and 4.1.