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    Module 08 Storage Area Network: Background

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    Randy Tabaog
    1. A Storage Area Network (SAN) is a high-performance network that connects computer systems to storage devices like disks and tapes, providing shared access to storage. SANs use Fibre Channel technology and enable organizations to apply consistent methodologies for security, data protection, and disaster recovery. 2. SANs allow for centralized storage that can be scaled easily by adding more storage devices. Data is stored at the block level for high performance. SANs can use different technologies like Fiber Channel or IP and connect various devices like disks, tapes, and file servers. 3. SAN virtualization abstracts the physical storage infrastructure to simplify management and improve scalability. There are different approaches like host-based, storage

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    Module 08 Storage Area Network: Background

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    Randy Tabaog
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    1. A Storage Area Network (SAN) is a high-performance network that connects computer systems to storage devices like disks and tapes, providing shared access to storage. SANs use Fibre Channel technology and enable organizations to apply consistent methodologies for security, data protection, and disaster recovery. 2. SANs allow for centralized storage that can be scaled easily by adding more storage devices. Data is stored at the block level for high performance. SANs can use different technologies like Fiber Channel or IP and connect various devices like disks, tapes, and file servers. 3. SAN virtualization abstracts the physical storage infrastructure to simplify management and improve scalability. There are different approaches like host-based, storage

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    Module 8 INTEGPROG

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    1. A Storage Area Network (SAN) is a high-performance network that connects computer systems to storage devices like disks and tapes, providing shared access to storage. SANs use Fibre Channel technology and enable organizations to apply consistent methodologies for security, data protection, and disaster recovery. 2. SANs allow for centralized storage that can be scaled easily by adding more storage devices. Data is stored at the block level for high performance. SANs can use different technologies like Fiber Channel or IP and connect various devices like disks, tapes, and file servers. 3. SAN virtualization abstracts the physical storage infrastructure to simplify management and improve scalability. There are different approaches like host-based, storage

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    91 views4 pages

    Module 08 Storage Area Network: Background

    Uploaded by

    Randy Tabaog
    1. A Storage Area Network (SAN) is a high-performance network that connects computer systems to storage devices like disks and tapes, providing shared access to storage. SANs use Fibre Channel technology and enable organizations to apply consistent methodologies for security, data protection, and disaster recovery. 2. SANs allow for centralized storage that can be scaled easily by adding more storage devices. Data is stored at the block level for high performance. SANs can use different technologies like Fiber Channel or IP and connect various devices like disks, tapes, and file servers. 3. SAN virtualization abstracts the physical storage infrastructure to simplify management and improve scalability. There are different approaches like host-based, storage

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    of 4

    Integrative Programming and Technologies 2

    1
    Storage Area Network

    Module 08 Storage Area Network

    Course Learning Outcomes:


    1. Distinguish the role of storage systems between dissimilar IT systems.
    2. Compare Storage design patterns and the IT services needed to
    integrate applications.

    Background

    A SAN (Storage Area Network) is a network designed to transfer data from servers to targets,
    and it is alternative to a directly attached target architecture, or to a DAS architecture
    Additional definitions of a SAN imply that the SAN should also be highly performing, and
    should be such to enable storage devices to communicate with one another and with computer
    systems.
    Storage area networks (SANs) are the most common storage networking architecture used
    by enterprises for business-critical applications that need to deliver high throughput and low
    latency. A rapidly growing portion of SAN deployments leverages all-flash storage to gain its high
    performance, consistent low latency, and lower total cost when compared to spinning disk. By
    storing data in centralized shared storage, SANs enable organizations to apply consistent
    methodologies and tools for security, data protection, and disaster recovery.
    Storage Area Networks are versatile enterprise resources whose value depends on how
    much is shared. In other words, sharing is profoundly the nature of SANs, and if you intend to
    dedicate a SAN to a server or a group of servers, you basically defeat the purpose of the SAN.

    The concept of a virtual SAN is not limited to simply security considerations from networking
    vendors. Much recent use of the term virtual SAN leans heavily on the virtual side of the phrase.
    Virtualization vendors employ the term virtual SAN to imply an approach to the SAN that allows for
    more rapid provisioning of virtualized storage. Beyond provisioning, virtualization vendors tout the
    virtual SAN as a means to leverage virtualization to afford simpler linear scalability to the storage
    area network.

    Course Module
    Integrative Programming and Technologies 2
    2
    Storage Area Network

    SAN ARCHITECTURE
    Storage is accessed at block level not at file level with exemplary performances. Storage is
    shared and there’s also a good management tools however there is interoperability issues.

    DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES
    Multiple technology can be used when building a SAN; traditionally the dominant technology is
    Fiber Channel, but IP based solutions are also quite popular for specific applications. The
    concept of SAN is also independent from the devices that are attached to it. Can be disks, tapes,
    RAIDs, file servers, or other.
    SAN AND NAS: NETWORK AND NODE
    SAN vs NAS: while a SAN is a network connecting storage subsystems, the NAS is a storage
    subsystem, making use of a general purpose network. The SAN is an extension of the disk
    channel outside the server, while the NAS is a disk subsystem connected to the servers, in most
    cases via an IP network.
    HARD DRIVES
    The basic storage element is a Hard Drive. They are made into complex devices composed of
    platters, heads, cylinders and tracks. File systems arrange files into sectors so that they can be
    stored and retrieved. The File system usually deals with clusters of blocks and uses a FAT (File
    Allocation Table) to map a file to the sectors.
    SAN VIRTUALIZATION
    As it has been found quite complex, virtualization concept came into picture for the sake of
    effective and efficient management of SAN. Virtualization can be defined as an abstracted
    management of huge amounts of equipment and data. Virtualization takes all diverse and large
    complex storage devices and makes them appear as one Hugh volume. Presently there are three
    proven methodologies for achieving SAN virtualization in the market.

    Course Module
    Integrative Programming and Technologies 2
    3
    Storage Area Network

    TYPES OF SAN VIRTUALIZATION


    Host-based virtualization - This methodology requires a control software program on every
    server that accesses the SAN. The main benefits out of this are easy installation and access.
    Storage-based virtualization - It works in a homogeneous hardware environment, i.e., everything
    has to be from the same vendor.

    A SAN appliance virtualizes storage and has the effect of converting various storage devices into one
    big disk. This big virtual disk stores terabytes of data that can allocate storage to different
    applications quickly and painlessly.

    SAN ADVANTAGES
    SAN Architecture facilitates scalability - Any number of storage devices can be added to store
    hundreds of terabytes.
    Sharing SAN is possible - As SAN is not directly attached with any particular server or network, a
    SAN can be shared by all.
    SAN provides long distance connectivity - With Fibre channel capable of running up to 10 kilometers,
    we can keep our data in a remote, physically secure location.
    SAN is truly versatile - A SAN can be single entity, a master grouping of several SANs

    SAN DISADVANTAGES
    SANs are very expensive as Fibre channel technology tends to be pricier and maintenance requires a
    higher degree of skill .
    Management of SAN systems has proved to be a real tough one due to various reasons. Also for some,
    having a SAN storage facility seems to be wasteful one.

    Course Module
    Integrative Programming and Technologies 2
    4
    Storage Area Network

    Also, there are a few SAN product vendors due to its very high price and very few mega enterprises
    need SAN set up.

    CONCLUSION
    SAN is literally a separate network devoted entirely to storage. Almost all SANs communicate and
    connect to servers via a Fibre channel host adopter card and switch.

    References and Supplementary Materials


    Books and Journals
    1. Information Storage and Management: Storing, Managing, and Protecting Digital
    Information in Classic, Virtualized, and Cloud Environments” by EMC Education Services
    2. Storage Area Network Fundamentals by Meeta Gupta, Published by Cisco Press.

    Online Supplementary Reading Materials

    https://www.netapp.com/us/info/what-is-storage-area-network.aspx
    https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/computer-science/storage-area-network
    https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/generation-programming-languages/

    Online Instructional Videos


    1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzjhHNfFQW0

    Course Module

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