EFFECTIVE DATA BACKUP SYSTEM USING STORAGE

AREA NETWORK SOLUTION

Ume, L.E.
Department of Computer Science, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Correspondence e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract
One of the most crucial benefits of the computer system is its ability to manage data send to it for
processing. An aspect of data management that all other aspects hinge upon is data storage and
retrieval. Data loss has rendered many firms bankrupt. The primary cause of data loss is lack or
non- existent of data backup. Storage Area Network Solution (SANS) is internet-based software
which will collect clients data and host them in several locations to forestall data loss in case of
disaster in one location. The researcher used adobe Dreamweaver (CSC3) embedded with PHP
incorporated with MySQL database technology to develop the application. The objectives of the
research were realized.

Keywords: Backup, Storage area network, Data, Effective and Data loss

Introduction therefore storage traffic, off the LAN and

Storage Area Network (SAN) is a creating a separate back-end network
highspeed sub-network of shared storage designed specifically for data. This is a
devices. A storage device is a machine that contrast to the use of a traditional LAN for
contains nothing but a disk or disks for providing a connection for server-storage, a
storing data. A SAN’s architecture works in strategy that limits overall network
a way that makes all storage devices bandwidth. SANs address the bandwidth
available to all servers on a LAN or WAN. bottlenecks associated with LAN based
As more storage devices are added to a SAN, server storage and the scalability limitations
they too will be accessible from any server in found with SCSI bus based implementations.
the larger network. In this case, the server SANs provide modular scalability, high-
merely acts a pathway between the end user availability, increased fault tolerance and
and the stored data. A storage area network centralized storage management. These
can use existing communication technology advantages have led to an increase in the
such as IBM’s optical fibre ESCON or use popularity of SANs as they are quite simply
fibre channel technology. Some SAN system better suited to address the data storage needs
integrators liken it to the common storage bus of today’s data intensive network
(flow of data) in a personal computer that is environments. Because stored data does not
shared by different kinds of storage devices reside directly on any of a network’s servers.
such as a hard disk or a CD-ROM player [6]. Server power is utilized for business
Storage area network support disk applications and network capacity is released
mirroring, backup and restore, archival and to the end user.
retrieval of archived data, data migration
from one storage of data among different Objective Of The Research
servers in a network. SANs can incorporate The volume of data generated by the use
sub-networks with network-attached storage of Information and Communication
(NAS) systems. SAN evolved from the Technology (ICT) tools to carry our routine
concept of taking storage devices and duties has made adequate back-up and good

West African Journal of Industrial & Academic Research Vol.14 No.1 June 2015 18
storage technology an imperative. They have “virtual hard drives” (i.e. LUNs). Essentially,
been some existing innovation in this case a SAN consolidates such storage islands
which SAN is one of such that this study together using a high-speed network.
tends to critically analyze. Despite such issues, SANs help to
increase storage capacity utilization, since
2.0 Literature Review multiple servers consolidate their private
According to [8] describes a storage area storage space onto the disk arrays.
network as similar to Local Area Network Common uses of a SAN include provision of
(LAN), but designed to handle large data transactional accessed data that require high-
transfers. A SAN typically supports data speed block-level access to the hard drives
storage, retrieval and replication on business such as email servers, databases and high
networks using high-end servers, multiple usage file servers.
disk arrays fibre channel interconnection Storage Area Networks also tend to enable
technology. Storage Area Network more effective disaster recovery processes. A
technology is similar but distinct from SAN could span a distant location containing
network attached storage (NAS) technology. a secondary storage array. This enables
While SANs traditionally employ low-level storage replication either implemented by
network protocols for transferring disk disk array controllers by server software or
blocks, a Network Attached Storage device by specialized SAN devices. Since IP WANs
typically works over TCP/IP and can be are often the least costly method of long-
integrated fairly easily into home computer distance transport, the fibre channel over IP
networks. (FCIP) and iSCSI protocols have been
Historically,[1] stated that data centers developed to allow SAN extension over IP
first created ”Islands” of Small Computer networks. The traditional physical SCSI
System Interface (SCSI) disk arrays as direct- layer could only support a few meters of
attached storage (DAS), each dedicated to an distance not nearly enough to ensure business
application, and visible as a number of continuance in a disaster [3].

Fig 1: Architecture of SAN

Sources: [2]

West African Journal of Industrial & Academic Research Vol.14 No.1 June 2015 19
 Key Considerations in developing a accurately predict how each LUN’s storage
Storage Area Network Design needs will grow.
Storage Area Networks (SANs) can let Security
several servers share storage resource and With several servers able to share the same
are often used in situations that require physical hardware, it should be no surprise that
high performance or shared storage with security plays an important role in a storage
blocklevel access, like virtualized servers area network design. Most of this security
and clustered databases [4]. work is done at the SAN’s switch level; zoning
Although SANs started out as a high- allows you to give only specific servers’ access
end technology used only in large to certain LUNs, much as a firewall allows
enterprises, cheaper SANs are now communication on specific ports for a given IP
affordable even for small and medium- address. If any outward facing application
sized business (SMBs). needs to access the SAN, like a website, you
should configure the switch so that only that
Uptime and availability server’s IP address can access it.
Because several servers will rely on a
SAN for all of their data, it’s important to Replication and disaster recovery With so
make the system very reliable and much data stored on a SAN, your client will
eliminate any single points of failure. In a likely want you to build disaster recovery into
typical storage area network design, each the system. SANs can be set up to
storage device connects to a switch that automatically mirror data to another site, which
then connects to the servers that need to could be a failsafe SAN a few meters away or
access the data. If either paths fails, a disaster recovery (DR) site hundreds of
software can fail over to the other. Some thousands of miles away. If the client wants to
programs will handle that failover build mirroring into the storage area network
automatically, but cheaper software may design, one of the first considerations is
require you to enable the failover whether to replicate synchronously or
manually. asynchronously.

Capability and scalability 3.0 Research Methodoly and System

A good storage area network design Analysis
should not only accommodate your client’s A methodology is a formalized approach to
current storage needs, but it should also be implementing the System Development Life
scalable so that your client can upgrade the Cycle (SDLC) that is, is a list of steps and
SAN as needed throughout the expected deliverables. There are many different systems
lifespan of the system. You should development methodologies and each one is
consider how scalable the SAN is in terms unique because of its emphasis on processes
of storage capacity, number of devices it versus data and the order and focus it places on
supports and speed. each SDLC phase. There are different types of
One feature of storage area network methodologies and the emphasis they place on
design that you should consider is thin processes versus data and the order and focus
provisioning of storage. Thin provisioning they place on each system development life
tricks servers into thinking a given volume cycle. Some of the types of methodologies are
within a SAN, known as a Logical Unit discuss below:
Number (LUN) has more space than it Structured System Analysis and Design
physically does. But this storage area Method (SSADM)
network design requires more maintenance SSADM provides a systematic
down the road, it’s best for stable approach to analysis and design of
environments where a client can fairly

West African Journal of Industrial & Academic Research Vol.14 No.1 June 2015 20
 information technology (IT) applications. of development. CASE helps ensure a
SSADM covers those aspects of the life- disciplined, check-pointed process. A
cycle of a system from the feasibility study CASE tool may portray progress (or lack
stage to the production of a physical of it) graphically. It may also serve as a
design; it is generally used in conjunction repository for or be linked to document and
with other methods, which is concerned program libraries containing the project's
with the broader aspects of project business plans, design requirements,
management. In detail, SSADM sets out a design specifications, detailed code
cascade or waterfall view of systems specifications, the code units, test cases
development, in which there are a series of and results, and marketing and service
steps, each of which leads to the next step. plans.
(This might be contrasted with the rapid Some of the benefits of CASE and similar
application development - RAD - method, approaches are that, by making the customer
which presupposes a need to conduct steps part of the process (through market analysis
in parallel. and focus groups, for example), a product is
more likely to meet real-world requirements.
Object-oriented analysis and Because the development process emphasizes
design (OOAD) testing and redesign, the cost of servicing a
This is a popular technical approach to product over its lifetime can be reduced
analyzing, designing an application, considerably. An organized approach to
system, or business by applying the object- development encourages code and design
oriented paradigm and visual modeling reuse, reducing costs and improving quality.
throughout the development life cycles to Finally, quality products tend to improve a
foster better stakeholder communication corporation's image, providing a competitive
and product quality. advantage in the marketplace.
The purpose of any analysis activity in
the software life-cycle is to create a model Analysis of the proposed system Before
of the system's functional requirements the development of the new system, an
that is independent of implementation intensive analysis of the relevance of the
constraints. system was carried out to ascertain the viability
The main difference between of the research. After analyzing the current
objectoriented analysis and other forms of method of backing up files in my locality
analysis is that by the object-oriented (Abakaliki urban in Nigeria) I discover that
approach we organize requirements around there is need to develop an application that will
objects, which integrate both behaviors enable schools and company or industrial
(processes) and states (data) modeled after sector create a storage area network that will
real world objects that the system interacts enable them backup of their files to avoid the
with. danger of data loss. The proposed system is
designed in such a way that users will register
Computer-aided software with the system in other to acquire username
engineering (CASE) and password, immediately after registration
The use of a computer-assisted method they will automatically be allotted to a memory
to organize and control the development of space. This will be proceeded by payment, and
software, especially on large, complex then they can be login in subsequently to
projects involving many software upload their files and sending their files to the
components and people. Using CASE admin for backup. The users can send a
allows designers, code writers, testers, message across to the admin in request for a
planners, and managers to share a common particular file that has been backed up and the
view of where a project stands at each stage admin will cross check and reply the users. The

West African Journal of Industrial & Academic Research Vol.14 No.1 June 2015 21
admin can also view all register Strengths of • Easy access to data: Data backed up in

users, edit their record, and update their files.

Start

Enter
username and
password

Is username
and No
password
correct?

Yes
Main menu

Create Inbox Upload files

messages

No Send files to
Check inbox
Enter No admin
for new
messages
messages

Stop
Are
message Is there
s new
messages

Messages sent
successfully to Read
admin

Stop
Stop

Fig 2: Flowchart of the proposed system

the Proposed System Storage Area Network (SAN) solution

West African Journal of Industrial & Academic Research Vol.14 No.1 June 2015 22
 system is easier to be accessed as the System Specification
infrastructures used are of high Specification is literally the discussion of a
specifications. specific point or issue. A project’s
• Reliability: The solution bring about specifications consist of the body of
some reliability. This is because SAN information that should guide the project
solution system provides a platform to developers, engineers and designers through
back-up data in many locations. the work of creating the software given by the
Therefore a damage in one location will user of the software. Hence,
not completely destroy the data as it This work is aimed at designing a storage area
will be near impossible for disaster to network solution system that will enable

Table 1: login form input

FIELD NAME FIELD TYPE FIELD LENGTH
Username Text 15
Password Text 9
Table 2: User Registration Input Form
FIELD NAME FIELD TYPE FIELD LENGTH
Company_name Varchar 30
Company_address Varchar 50
email Varchar 30
Contact_number number 13
Username Varchar 15
Password Varchar 9
Fig 3: Input Form design
occur at all the locations where the data schools and cooperate organization create a
is back-up at the same time. backup of their files in different locations at the
Security: Data is live wire of any same time.
organization and therefore need to be
properly secured. SAN solution system is Input Specification and design
designed with optimum security in sight. The input specification of this system
Using the system ensures proper security specifies the data the user has to supply for the
of data backed up. system to work efficiently and generate
Consistency: This is the ability of data to accurate results. There are three major points
retain its quality in various locations where of data input; input is made while trying to
the data is backed-up. Data backed up in Login into the system, input is made when the
the system is always the same in various admin register’s schools or companies, and
locations ensuring a high integrity for the input is also made when users tries to upload
data. files for backing up. Some this input forms are
Effective data management: SAN displays below:
solution system provides a
proper management of data compared
to other system.

4.0 System Specification, Design

and Implementation

West African Journal of Industrial & Academic Research Vol.14 No.1 June 2015 23
 Output Specification :
The output specification displays result Database Specification Database
after the keyed data have been processed. specification specifies the structure of the
This comprises the output to the above database(s) that will be used in the system. One
input, output is made after the company or database was created and eight tables the name
school has been registered, the admin can of the database created is backup, MYSQL
view the record as output, output is also (My structured query language) was used for
made when a message or file is send to the the creation of the database; some of the tables
admin by the users, the admin can also used are displayed below:
view the file as output.

Table 4: BACKUP TABLE

S/NO FIELD NAME DATA TYPE FIELD SIZE
1 Title VARCHAR 50
2 Description Varchar 50
3 File_upload VARCHAR 90
4 Sender VARCHAR 50
5 Data_uploaded VARCHAR 20
6 Backup_status VARCHAR 20
7 Downloaded_status VARCHAR 10

West African Journal of Industrial & Academic Research Vol.14 No.1 June 2015 24
 Fig. 4: Back –up Data Output
Process design actually required before and after the
Storage Area Network solution system as software is put into place. testing process
a web-based application was implemented identifies program defects or weakness. this
using web based development tools. There testing was thorough to ensure that the
are different types of web-based system meets organizational and end user
development tool, but adobe macromedia requirements. the coding of this project was
dream weaver CS3 was selected for the put through series of test ranging from unit
development of the new system because testing, integration testing, system testing
other languages like scripting languages are and user acceptance testing.
embedded in it such as PhP (hypertext A top down approach was used in testing
preprocessor), javascript, html (hypertext this system, in which the bigger problems
markup language) etc. and also have the were first broken into smaller problems
following advantages: which made testing and debugging easier.
i. it is user friendly ii. easy to understand iii.
all other scripting language, server side Test plan
scripting language are embedded which A test plan documents the strategy that
simplifies the creation of powerful and will be used to verify and ensure that a
attractive web pages system meets its design specifications and
A virtual server was also used in the other requirements.
development of the new system, xampp The approach used in the test plan of this
(cross apache, mysql, perl and php) was software is the top down method. this
choosing as the virtual server, it was involves the systematic procedure of testing
choosing because it has a good graphical user the main menu system first, the subsystems
interface, is user friendly and it can work on and finally, the different modules. hence, the
any operating system top down is effective as it describes the
functionality at a more detailed level.
Software testing Having designed the system using this
This is the process of performing variety approach, it is essential that its test plan
of tests on a system to explore functionality follow the same process. the top down test
or identify problems. Software testing is

West African Journal of Industrial & Academic Research Vol.14 No.1 June 2015 25
i. plan, which has a systematic procedure, involves
the following: module under that subsystem. Also, the
Testing the main menu system which software modules for each subsystem are
enables one to select an appropriate tested.
subsystem of his/her choice.
ii. Secondly, the subsystems that Test data
coordinate the software packages are Test data is data which has been
tested and they enable the user to select a specifically identified for use in tests,
program typically of a computer system.
computer program, which also involves,
feeding the system with raw data to prove During the testing, the actual and expected
the reliability of the system modules, results were compared to ensure they
simulated data and actual data were used produced same result or if there is a
as test data to ensure the system is working difference, it should be slight and
as expected and meets required conditions negligible. Hence the result:

Test Result (Expected versus Actual)

This is the result obtained after testing the Table 5: Comparison between expected
system with the test plan and test data. and actual results

S/N TEST DATA EXPECTED RESULT ACTUAL RESULT

1 Users click on register Users should be able to register with the Users were able to register
new. system in other for the user to gain with the system.
access to the system.
2 Users login with Users should be granted access if Access was granted to users
correct username and username and password is correct, but that enters correct username
password if users enter incorrect username and and password and also access
password access should be denied. was denied for users that
enters incorrect username
and password
3 Users clicks on upload Users should be able to upload files for Users was able to upload files
files backup for backup
4 Users clicks on Users should be able to send messages Users was able to send
message across to admin messages across to the admin
5 Admin click on view Admin should be able to view backup Admin was able to view
backup, backup

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 Integration Testing is a level of the
The above table illustrates how the software software testing process where individual
program was tested units are combined and tested as a group.

Performance Evaluation System integration is the bringing together

Performance evaluation is the process of the component subsystems into one
of checking if the system performs as system and ensuring that the subsystems
required and satisfies certain conditions. function together as a system. In
When the expected and actual results were information technology, systems
compared, there was no error and the integration is the process of linking
system met the conditions stated in the together different computing systems and
requirement and specification. software applications physically or
functionally, to act as a coordinated whole.
Software Integration
During system integration, each module
was tested before integrated to another
module, there was also
West African Journal of Industrial & Academic Research Vol.14 No.1 June 2015

SANs provide scalability for cost effective

configurations as well as expandability. They
provide flexibility for ease of implementation
testing at each integration. A final test was and maintenance. SANs are also reliable and
done when the modules where integrated into redundant, providing integrity and security
the complex system. for data. Finally, SANs allow clusters of
storage devices to reside in different
geographic locations for support of offsite
data storage. Storage Area Network
5.0 Conclusion technologies enjoy wide industry support
In conclusion, Storage Area Networks with industry associations, well tested
(SANs) have emerged as the best solution for standards and multiple vendors.
advanced storage requirements. The (SAN)
answer the information infrastructure and
application needs of today’s corporations
both large and small, government or civilian.

References

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[2] Laura Lee Brennan and Marc Olanie (2007). An Introduction of Network Attached Storage,
SPH magazine
[3] Ugah, J.O. et el (2011), A modern approach to computer application, His glory publication,
Enugu Nigeria
[4] Matthew Glidden (October 2001). Switches and Hubs. About this particular Macintosh
blog. Retrieved September, 2015
[5] Robert J. Kohlhepp (2000) The 10 Most Important Product of the Decade."Network
Computing magazine
[6] http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redbooks/pdfs/sg245470.pdf
[7] http://www.cisco.com

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[8] http://compnetworking.about.com/od/networkstorage/g/storage_san.htm
[9] Feig, Rami (2001). Computer Networks: The OSI model
Reference model http://www.rad.com/networks/1994/osi/intro.htm

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