Storage Area Network (SAN)

A Storage Area Network (SAN) is an independent network for storage subsystems, free from the rest of the computer network. In effect, a SAN removes the storage from the servers; thus liberating the storage devices from the ownership of the servers. In such a setup where no server has ownership of storage subsystems, any server can gain access to any storage device. In other words, any user can gain access to any storage device of the SAN, regardless of the physical location of the storage or the user.

In addition to offering any-to-any connections, a SAN creates a scaleable environment. Since storage and servers are independent from each other, storage devices or servers can be added or removed from their respective networks without affecting each other. Storage devices can be added to the SAN without any worry about a server's configurations. Isolating the potential disruptions of the servers from those of the storage reduces potential for interruptions.

The creation of an independent SAN further enhances the workflow of information among storage devices and other systems on the network. Additionally, moving storage-related functions and storage-to-storage data traffic to the SAN relieves the front end of the network, the Local Area Network (LAN), of time consuming burdens such as restore and backup.

What are the Benefits of a SAN?
The primary benefits of a SAN are:

• Availability: A single copy of data is accessible to any and all hosts via multiple paths.

• Reliability: Dependable data transportation ensures a low error rate, and an ability to recover from failures is provided.

• Scalability: Servers and storage devices may be added independently of one another, and do not depend on proprietary systems.

• Performance: Fibre Channel (the standard method for SAN interconnectivity) has a 100MB/sec bandwidth and low overhead, and it separates storage and network I/O.

• Manageability: Emerging software and standards for both FC-AL and Fibre Channel fabric allow single centralized management and proactive error detection and correction.

• Return On Information Management: Due to increased redundancy and superior manageability, as well as the ability to add storage and servers independently of one another SANs provide a lower cost of ownership and a Higher Return On Information Management (ROIM).

Vendors: Equallogic, Hitachi Data Systems, HP, Lefthand Networks, Overland Storage

Network Attached Storage (NAS)

A Network Attached Storage (NAS) unit is essentially a self-contained computer connected to a network, with the sole purpose of supplying file-based data storage services to other devices on the network. The operating system and other software on the NAS unit provide the functionality of data storage, file systems, and access to files, and the management of these functionalities. The unit is not designed to carry out general-purpose computing tasks, although it may technically be possible to run other software on it. NAS units usually do not have a keyboard or display, and are controlled and configured over the network, often by connecting a browser to their network address. The alternative to NAS storage on a network is to use a computer as a file server. In its most basic form a dedicated file server is no more than a NAS unit with keyboard and display and an operating system which, while optimised for providing storage services, can run other tasks; however, file servers are increasingly used to supply other functionality, such as supplying database services, email services, and so on..

Vendors: Buffalo Technologies, D-Link, HP, Linksys, Overland Storage

Offsite Backup

Off-site data protection, or vaulting, is the strategy of sending critical data out of the main location (off the main site) as part of a disaster recovery plan. Data is usually transported off-site using removable storage media such as magnetic tape. Data can also be sent electronically via a remote backup service, which is known as electronic vaulting or e-vaulting.

Although some organizations manage and store their own off-site backups, many choose to have their backups managed and stored by third parties who specialize in the commercial protection of off-site data.

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