What is a Storage Area Network (SAN)?
A Storage Area Network (SAN) is a dedicated network of storage devices that provides access to consolidated, block-level data storage. It’s essentially a high-speed network designed to connect servers to storage devices, such as disk arrays and tape libraries.
Benefits:
- High performance: SANs offer high-speed data transfer rates, ideal for demanding applications.
- Scalability: Easily expand storage capacity by adding more devices to the network.
- Availability: Redundant components and fault tolerance ensure continuous data access.
- Data protection: Supports data replication and backup for disaster recovery.
- Centralised management: Simplifies storage management and administration.
Use Cases:
SANs are commonly used in:
- Data centres: Storing and managing large volumes of data.
- Enterprise applications: Supporting critical applications like databases, email and file servers.
- Virtualisation environments: Providing shared storage for virtual machines.
- Media and entertainment: Handling large media files for video editing and production.
Key Components:
- Storage devices: Disk arrays, tape libraries and other storage media.
- SAN switches: Connect storage devices and servers to the network.
- Host bus adapters (HBAs): Connect servers to the SAN.
- Fibre Channel: Common protocol for high-speed data transfer.
- iSCSI: Internet Small Computer System Interface for Ethernet-based SANs.
