SK0-003 · Question #40
A server connects to iSCSI presented SAN storage array through a dedicated NIC; however, the SAN traffic is passed on the same switches as the Ethernet network and VoIP traffic. The size of the…
The correct answer is C. The other network traffic is causing packet delays in the iSCSI network. Sharing switches for iSCSI traffic with high-volume Ethernet and VoIP traffic will likely cause network congestion and packet delays, leading to decreased storage performance.
Question
A server connects to iSCSI presented SAN storage array through a dedicated NIC; however, the SAN traffic is passed on the same switches as the Ethernet network and VoIP traffic. The size of the presented drive is 700GB. The administrator has noticed a decrease in storage performance. Which of the following is MOST likely the cause?
Options
- AThe servers power supply is starting to fail and causing the iSCSI NIC to intermittently lose
- BThere are too many users attempting to access the iSCSI presented disk.
- CThe other network traffic is causing packet delays in the iSCSI network.
- DThe SAN is nearing capacity and should be expanded.
How the community answered
(45 responses)- A4% (2)
- B13% (6)
- C78% (35)
- D4% (2)
Why each option
Sharing switches for iSCSI traffic with high-volume Ethernet and VoIP traffic will likely cause network congestion and packet delays, leading to decreased storage performance.
A failing power supply would typically cause intermittent power loss to the NIC or server, leading to complete connectivity issues or system instability rather than just decreased performance.
While too many users could contribute to a bottleneck, the question explicitly highlights the network configuration with shared switches for different traffic types, making network congestion the more direct and likely cause.
iSCSI traffic, being block-level storage, is highly sensitive to network latency and packet loss. When it shares switches with other bandwidth-intensive or latency-sensitive traffic types like Ethernet and VoIP, congestion can occur, leading to increased packet delays and retransmissions for iSCSI, thus degrading storage performance.
SAN nearing capacity might slow down operations, but the problem description emphasizes the shared network path for different traffic types, making network congestion a more probable and immediate cause.
Concept tested: iSCSI networking best practices and traffic isolation
Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/storage/iscsi/iscsi-initiator-target-best-practices
Topics
Community Discussion
No community discussion yet for this question.