Data Storage - Where do SERDES play in SANs?

Author

Where do SERDES play in SANs?

Frank Poon

2004-11-10, 5:45 pm

Hi,

I'm a complete newbie on my internship doing some analysis on SERDES
components in Storage Area Networks. I have no idea where to start
looking so my questions are:

1.
Where in the Storage Area Network (HBAs, Switches, Controllers, etc.)
do you need SERDES components? Would you need one SERDES for each
port on the device, be it an HBA or a Switch? Does anyone know any
resources where I can read up on this type of stuff?

2.
What's are the advantages/disadvantages of integrating a SERDES say
into an FPGA or ASIC instead of using a standalone component?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Frank