Storage Area Network Definition In the field of data processing, a storage area network ( SAN) or storage network is a network for the connection of hard disk subsystems (disk arrays) and tape libraries to server systems. Storage Area Networks blueprint serial, continuous, high-speed, high-volume data transfers. Today, for high-availability, high-performance installations, they are based on the implementation of the Fiber Channel standard, while for SMEs, cost considerations also apply to IP. Direct Attached Storage (DAS) is an extension of SAN, where disk storage capacity allocates to a server over a network, but can also dynamically allocate to a server within operational limits. Also Read: What is a Photoshop? Definition, Uses and More What are the functional principles of SAN? The SAN is designed to address the management issue of dedicated hard drives in server systems or network-attached storage (NAS) systems. The Ethernet, via which the NAS systems connect to the servers or the clients, with its small frame sizes and relatively high protocol.
In contrast to simple network storage solutions like network attached storage (NAS), SANs prevent LANs from being overburdened. System architecture of storage area networks Due to its complicated system architecture, which in part requires very expensive hardware, setting up a storage area network can prove to be a complicated and cost-intensive undertaking. Excluding the cables and other basics, the following fundamentals are needed for setting up a SAN server: Fiber channel fabric: in the IT world, the term 'fabric' encompasses a network of cable lines and switches that boast a high redundancy due to their multiple cross connections. In addition to enabling an enormous data throughput, this set-up also provides a high bandwidth as well as increased reliability. Fabric composed of fiber channel switches and fiber optic cables make up the core of storage area networks. In doing so, all devices using SANs are linked to the fiber channel switch, thereby providing the necessary connections needed for data access to be carried out in real time between senders and recipients.
The primary strength of NAS is how simple it is to set up and deploy. NAS volumes appear to the user as network mounted volumes. The files to be served are typically contained on one or more hard drives in the system, often arranged in RAID arrays. Generally, the more drive bays available within the NAS, the larger and more flexible storage options you have. The device itself is a network node—much like computers and other TCP/IP devices, all of which maintain their own IP address—and the NAS file service uses the Ethernet network to send and receive files. Although a NAS is usually not designed to be a general-purpose server, NAS vendors and third parties are increasingly offering other software to provide server-like functionality on a NAS. NAS devices offer an easy way for multiple users in diverse locations to access data, which is valuable when users are collaborating on projects or sharing information. NAS provides good access controls and security to support collaboration, while also enabling someone who is not an IT professional to administer and manage access to the data via an on-board web server.
Thus, Fiber cables allow one to take advantage of all these technologies and realize the use of built-in protocols that work with copper cables up to 100 meters or fiber optic cables up to 10 kilometers or more. One of the best-known examples of the use of storage area networks is fiber. SAN allows the creation of a storage network independent of the servers, unlike the traditional arrangement where each server has an integrated hard disk drive. When a SAN structure is desired to be created, a high-speed connection such as Fiber is configured, enabling the rapid transfer of large amounts of data between servers and storage devices. As a result, a SAN network is created where high-speed connection, efficient data transfer, and a large number of storage devices are combined. Because fiber cables allow data transfer over very long distances, storage devices can be placed in safe locations, which is an important consideration for disaster recovery problems. Components Servers A storage network is a network of all types of servers with any operating system that can access network storage.
Updated: 10/02/2017 by A SAN ( storage area network) is a subnetwork of storage devices that are shared with one another over a high-speed network connection. The purpose of a storage area network is to allow all designated users on the network to access multiple storage devices, not only the storage devices installed in their computer. Once a SAN is constructed, and all storage devices are shared in the SAN, it's then connected to the servers accessed by network users. The primary benefit of a SAN is it decreases the amount of storage required on a network server for multiple users to access the same information. With multiple users' accessing the storage devices, businesses can use the extra network capacity to run more powerful applications and increase the efficiency of the network. SAN's are also used for storage redundancy purposes in case of unexpected natural disaster and loss of data. Large back-up disk arrays can be stored on an off-site location and shared on a SAN where users can access them remotely.
According to Forbes, 35 zettabytes (35 trillion gigabytes) of data are predicted to be created in 2020. So, where is all that data going to be stored? How will you store large amounts of data that is also easily accessible? If you're a business owner, you must've thought about the data your business will generate or use, and now you are looking into flexible storage solutions. What is SAN Storage? A Storage Area Network (SAN) is a high-performance, high-speed network of storage devices that allows access to consolidated, block-level storage. Multiple client devices can access it, and it usually appears to the client OS as a disk. SAN storage separates the storage system from the rest of the local area network (LAN). This way, they improve application performance, data protection, and disaster recovery if needed. Looking for scalable storage solutions? SAN Storage can add more capacity on-demand. How Does SAN Storage Work? SAN storage provides a high-speed infrastructure connecting servers to their logical disk units.
A logical disk unit is an array of blocks allocated from a pool of storage units that are presented to the server as a logical disk. Therefore, when connecting to a SAN from a LAN or a server, the SAN actually appears like a local disk. It does that in a way that any client device can store data on the logical unit, as it would on any local type of storage device. A well-designed and distributed SAN can withstand multiple device or component failures, keeping the data safe. What Does SAN Storage Consist Of? As already mentioned, storage area networks are usually physically separated from the rest of the LAN, and can span multiple sites. They're composed of SAN switches, hosts, and storage devices that are connected internally through a variety of SAN technologies. What are the Advantages of System Area Network? The five advantages of system area networks are: Greater Scalability – SAN storage can be scaled easily to suit evolving business needs. Should you need more storage, more capacity can be added when and as it is required.
These environments often extend to thousands of virtual machines running a broad range of operating systems and applications, with different performance requirements. Virtualized environments concentrate many applications, so infrastructure reliability becomes even more important because a failure can cause multiple application outages. Large virtual desktop infrastructures (VDIs). These environments serve virtual desktops to large numbers of an organization's users. Some VDI environments can easily number in the tens of thousands of virtual desktops. By centralizing the virtual desktops, organizations can more easily manage data protection and data security. SAP or other large ERP or CRM environments. SAN architectures are ideal for enterprise resource planning and customer resource management workloads. The most common SAN protocols are: Fibre Channel Protocol (FCP). The most widely used SAN or block protocol, deployed in 70% to 80% of the total SAN market. FCP uses Fibre Channel transport protocols with embedded SCSI commands.
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