RE: I-D ACTION:draft-ietf-ips-iscsi-reqmts-03.txt

["Douglas Otis" <dotis@sanlight.net>]

Marjorie,

This requirements document makes it clear there is expectation of modifying
Ethernet adapters to support this protocol.  Should this required hardware
support be made in a general fashion to allow common use among other
protocols?  This hardware requirement is primarily based on two
requirements, to increase the level of error detection and to allow framing.
Presently, IETF supports a framing protocol that also increases the level of
error detection.

Presently TSVWG and IPS are working on a common error detection algorithm.
In addition, there are two other protocols expecting hardware for framing
and error detection.  This is iFCP and FCIP.

See:
http://www.ietf.org/internet-drafts/draft-ietf-ips-fcencapsulation-00.txt

It is possible to have all these protocols use the same error detection and
framing.  If this MUST be done using TCP, as this requirement document
demands, then here is a possible general propose header that would allow
common use of hardware and a easy transition into SCTP.

I will be happy to define a mapping from the present protocols into this
generalized form.  The advantage should be obvious.  One Ethernet adapter
can handle these various protocols without specialized hardware for each.

For those wishing to update and route based on encapsulated headers, a
fix-up field at the end of these headers will allow use of a common error
scheme using header fix-up.

Here is an example of how TCP can be made to look like SCTP.
http://www.ietf.org/internet-drafts/draft-otis-iscsi-fullack-00.txt

This header could become a TCP option field to allow for negotiation.

P.S.
One additional question however.

On page 18,
   "The iSCSI protocol document SHOULD NOT define the management
   architecture for iSCSI within the network infrastructure."

What does this mean?

Doug


> The IP Storage Working group is chartered with developing
> comprehensive technology to transport block storage data
> over IP protocols.  This effort includes a protocol to
> transport the Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI)
> protocol over the internet (iSCSI).
>
> A URL for this Internet-Draft is:
> http://www.ietf.org/internet-drafts/draft-ietf-ips-iscsi-reqmts-03.txt
>