Hello all ,
what is SAN and what is the difference between SAN Vs. DAS .
Thanks.
What is SAN ?
-
Alexismartin
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Mon Jan 19, 2015 3:08 pm
Re: What is SAN ?
SAN (storage area network) is a high-speed network of storage devices that also connects those storage devices with servers. It gives block-level storage that can be accessed by the applications running on any networked servers. SAN storage devices can include tape libraries and disk-based devices, like RAID hardware.
SAN Vs. DAS
SAN offers better flexibility, availability and performance than direct-attached storage (DAS). Because a SAN removes storage from the servers and consolidates it in a place where it can be accessed by any application, it tends to improve storage utilization. Storage utilization improvements often allow organizations to defer purchases of additional storage hardware, which saves money and requires less space in the data center.
SANs frequently provide better performance than DAS. Also, because SANs usually offer multiple connections to and from the data center's servers, they also improve availability. In addition, separating the storage from the servers frees up the computing resources on the servers for other tasks not related to storage.
SANs are particularly helpful in backup and disaster recovery settings. Within a SAN, data can be transferred from one storage device to another without relating with a server. This speeds up the backup process and reduces the need to use server CPU cycles for backup. Also, many SANs utilize Fibre Channel technology or other networking protocols that allow the networks to cover longer distances geographically. That makes it more reasonable for companies to keep their backup data in remote locations.
Before the beginning of sANs, organizations generally used direct-attached storage (DAS). As the name implies, direct-attached storage is directly attached to the server, residing either on the server or in a standalone storage device that is not part of a separate storage networking environment. Many smaller organizations continue to use DAS today because it offers lower upfront costs than deploying a SAN. However, for larger companies, the benefits of a SAN often compensate the costs.
Sometimes people confuse the term SAN with the term NAS, which stands for "network-attached storage." The key to distinguishing the two lies in the last term of each acronym: a SAN (storage area network) is an actual network, while NAS (network-attached storage) refers to a storage device, typically in an IP network. While SANs provide block-level storage for servers, a NAS device provides file-level storage for end users. Operating systems see a SAN as a disk, while they see a NAS device as a file server.
To set up a simple SAN, you need only three major mechanisms: a SAN switch, a storage device and a server. We’ll also need cables to connect the various elements together and SAN management software. The SAN's topology will depend on its size and the needs of the organization.
SAN Vs. DAS
SAN offers better flexibility, availability and performance than direct-attached storage (DAS). Because a SAN removes storage from the servers and consolidates it in a place where it can be accessed by any application, it tends to improve storage utilization. Storage utilization improvements often allow organizations to defer purchases of additional storage hardware, which saves money and requires less space in the data center.
SANs frequently provide better performance than DAS. Also, because SANs usually offer multiple connections to and from the data center's servers, they also improve availability. In addition, separating the storage from the servers frees up the computing resources on the servers for other tasks not related to storage.
SANs are particularly helpful in backup and disaster recovery settings. Within a SAN, data can be transferred from one storage device to another without relating with a server. This speeds up the backup process and reduces the need to use server CPU cycles for backup. Also, many SANs utilize Fibre Channel technology or other networking protocols that allow the networks to cover longer distances geographically. That makes it more reasonable for companies to keep their backup data in remote locations.
Before the beginning of sANs, organizations generally used direct-attached storage (DAS). As the name implies, direct-attached storage is directly attached to the server, residing either on the server or in a standalone storage device that is not part of a separate storage networking environment. Many smaller organizations continue to use DAS today because it offers lower upfront costs than deploying a SAN. However, for larger companies, the benefits of a SAN often compensate the costs.
Sometimes people confuse the term SAN with the term NAS, which stands for "network-attached storage." The key to distinguishing the two lies in the last term of each acronym: a SAN (storage area network) is an actual network, while NAS (network-attached storage) refers to a storage device, typically in an IP network. While SANs provide block-level storage for servers, a NAS device provides file-level storage for end users. Operating systems see a SAN as a disk, while they see a NAS device as a file server.
To set up a simple SAN, you need only three major mechanisms: a SAN switch, a storage device and a server. We’ll also need cables to connect the various elements together and SAN management software. The SAN's topology will depend on its size and the needs of the organization.
-
josephethan67
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2015 5:14 pm
Re: What is SAN ?
SAN is a network of storage devices that can be accessed by multiple computers. Each computer on the network can access hard drives in the SAN.
-
avadavis692
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2015 3:37 pm
Re: What is SAN ?
A storage area network (SAN) is a dedicated, self-contained high-speed network that links and distributes shared storage pools to numerous machines. Each server can access shared storage as if it were a hard disc connected directly to it.
-
matildaward113
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Wed Jan 21, 2015 3:59 pm
Re: What is SAN ?
A storage area network, often known as a storage network, is a computer network that allows users to access centralised, block-level data storage. SANs are typically used to connect servers to data storage devices such as disc arrays and tape libraries, allowing the operating system to see the devices as direct-attached storage.
