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Storage area networks (SAN)- How corporate data storage works
Sponsored LinksWhat are storage area networks (SAN)?
Storage area networks (SAN) are simply a network of storage devices used for efficient data storage within a corporate network
Another simple definition is that storage area networks (SAN) connect multiple disparate storage systems thru high speed network.
Yet another way is to define storage area networks (SAN) as the separation of I/O and processing. storage area networks (SAN) take care of I/O or data storage within the organization, and processing servers take care of processing needs.
Advantages of storage area networks (SAN)
- Storage area networks (SAN) allow easy administration of storage within the corporate network
- Storage area networks (SAN) enable processing servers to access storage in a logical manner without bothering about the intricacies of data storage
- Storage area networks (SAN) enable better utilization of disk storage within the corporate and thereby save money. For example, storage area networks enable treating disparate storage as one contiguous pool so that there is minimal redundant or wasted data storage within the corporate
Components of storage area networks (SAN)
A typical storage area network consists of
- Storage area network interfaces
The storage area network interfaces define the technology or the brain of the storage area network. Typical storage area network interfaces include
- SCSI storage area networks (SAN) -Small computer systems interface- storage area networks (SAN) of the past
SCSI storage area networks (SAN) are based on an ANSI standard for a logical interface to computer peripherals. SCSI storage area networks (SAN) have been largely replaced by Fibre Channel storage area networks.
- Fibre Channel storage area networks (SAN) - Storage area networks of the present
Fibre Channel storage area networks (SAN) are the basis of the most popular storage
network technology in current corporate networks.
Fibre Channel storage area networks (SAN) allow transmission of data between computer devices at
speeds of up to 2 Gbps
- iSCSI storage area networks (SAN) or IP based SCSI storage area networks (SAN).
The iSCSI technology is based on using the internet protocol to send SCSI commands from the servers to the storage devices.
- Storage area network connectors
Storage area network connectors consist of routers, switches and other interconnectors that can connect multiple storage area networks (SAN).
- Storage area network protocol
Typical storage area network protocols are SCSI and IP storage area network protocols. (storage area network interfaces are sometimes referred to as storage area network protocols)
- The physical storage devices within the storage area network
Kinds of storage area networks (SAN)
- Centralized storage area networks (SAN)
Centralized storage area networks (SAN) have multiple servers within an organization connected to a common storage pool (A storage pool consists of storage disks)
- Distributed storage area networks (SAN)
Distributed storage area networks (SAN) consist of ISCI switches that connect multiple storage networks that may be geographically separated.