What is a disadvantage of IP SAN compared to FC SAN?

High transmission efficiency is identified as a disadvantage of IP SAN compared to FC SAN. This is primarily because Fibre Channel (FC) SANs are specifically designed for optimized performance within storage networks. FC SANs typically offer superior data transfer rates and lower latency, which provides a more efficient transmission environment for storage-related data traffic.

In contrast, IP SANs, which leverage standard Ethernet for storage networking, may face challenges in achieving the same level of transmission efficiency. The nature of Ethernet involves higher latency and packet overhead due to its design for general-purpose networking rather than specifically for storage. As a result, while IP SANs can be more flexible and economical, they may fall short in terms of performance efficiency compared to their Fibre Channel counterparts, which are purpose-built for high-speed storage communication.

The other options highlight aspects such as cost, bandwidth expansion, and transmission distance that are generally seen as advantages of IP SANs rather than disadvantages. This further underscores the idea that while IP SANs have their own benefits, they cannot match the high transmission efficiency characteristic of FC SANs.