What is a Storage Area Network (SAN) and how does it help application performance?
Storage Area Networks (SANs) are specialized, high-speed network that provide block-level network access to storage. A Storage Area Network is typically composed of hosts, switches, storage elements, and storage devices that are interconnected using a variety of technologies, topologies, and protocols. SANs may also span multiple sites.
SANs are mostly used to enhance storage space devices, such as disk arrays, tape libraries, and optic jukeboxes, accessible to machines so that the devices appear to the operating system as locally fastened devices. A SAN commonly has its own network of safe-keeping devices that are generally not really accessible through the local area network (LAN) by other products. The cost and complexity of SANs dropped in the early on 2000s to levels permitting wider adoption across the two enterprise and small to medium-sized business environments.
SANs can be used to:
A virtual storage area network (VSAN) is a software-defined storage offering that is executed on top of a hypervisor just like VMware ESXi or Microsoft company Hyper-V. Virtual SANs deliver a number of benefits such as easy management and scalability. Generally, VSANs are hardware-agnostic. Given that the storage hardware is definitely recognized and supported by the hypervisor, the hardware works extremely well by the VSAN (although every single vendor has its own requirements).
Unified SAN
A Unified Storage Area Network (USAN) is based around the concept of unified storage, which exposes file storage and block storage through a single device (usually a modified NAS appliance). A unified SAN takes this concept a step further by exposing not only dedicated logical unit numbers (LUNs) -- like any other SAN -- but file system-based, NAS-like storage.
Converged SAN
Chicago Storage area networks are normally kept separate by Ethernet networks. A converged SAN uses a common network infrastructure for network and SAN traffic to eliminate obsolete infrastructure, and to reduce expense and complexity.
SANs generally make use of FC, while info networks are usually based on Ethernet,. Converged SANs adopt fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE), which encapsulates FC payloads into Ethernet frames. Converged SANs are almost always based on twelve Gigabit Ethernet, and multiple network ports are sometimes attached together to increase throughput.
A Storage Area Network (SAN) is a specialized, high-speed network that provides block-level network access to storage. SANs are typically composed of hosts, switches, storage elements, and storage devices that are interconnected using a variety of technologies, topologies, and protocols. SANs may also span multiple sites.
SANs also tend to enable more effective disaster recovery processes. A SAN could span a distant location containing a secondary storage array. This enables storage replication either implemented by disk array controllers, by server software, or by specialized SAN devices
Utilizing a SAN can also simplify some management tasks, potentially allowing organizations to hire fewer IT workers or to free up some IT workers for other tasks. It's also possible to boot servers from a SAN, which can reduce the time and hassles involved in replacing a server.
SANs are mostly used to enhance storage space devices, such as disk arrays, tape libraries, and optic jukeboxes, accessible to machines so that the devices appear to the operating system as locally fastened devices. A SAN commonly has its own network of safe-keeping devices that are generally not really accessible through the local area network (LAN) by other products. The cost and complexity of SANs dropped in the early on 2000s to levels permitting wider adoption across the two enterprise and small to medium-sized business environments.
SANs can be used to:
- Improve application availability (e. g., multiple data paths)
- Enhance application performance (e. g., off-load storage features, segregate networks, etc . )
- Increase storage utilization and effectiveness (e. g., combine storage resources, provide tiered storage, etc . ), and improve data protection and security.
- SANs also commonly play an important role within an organization's Business Continuity Administration (BCM) activities.
Types of SANs
Virtual SANA virtual storage area network (VSAN) is a software-defined storage offering that is executed on top of a hypervisor just like VMware ESXi or Microsoft company Hyper-V. Virtual SANs deliver a number of benefits such as easy management and scalability. Generally, VSANs are hardware-agnostic. Given that the storage hardware is definitely recognized and supported by the hypervisor, the hardware works extremely well by the VSAN (although every single vendor has its own requirements).
Unified SAN
A Unified Storage Area Network (USAN) is based around the concept of unified storage, which exposes file storage and block storage through a single device (usually a modified NAS appliance). A unified SAN takes this concept a step further by exposing not only dedicated logical unit numbers (LUNs) -- like any other SAN -- but file system-based, NAS-like storage.
Converged SAN
Chicago Storage area networks are normally kept separate by Ethernet networks. A converged SAN uses a common network infrastructure for network and SAN traffic to eliminate obsolete infrastructure, and to reduce expense and complexity.
SANs generally make use of FC, while info networks are usually based on Ethernet,. Converged SANs adopt fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE), which encapsulates FC payloads into Ethernet frames. Converged SANs are almost always based on twelve Gigabit Ethernet, and multiple network ports are sometimes attached together to increase throughput.
SAN Benefits
A SAN presents storage devices to a host such that the storage appears to be locally attached. This simplified presentation of storage to a host is accomplished through the use of different types of virtualization.A Storage Area Network (SAN) is a specialized, high-speed network that provides block-level network access to storage. SANs are typically composed of hosts, switches, storage elements, and storage devices that are interconnected using a variety of technologies, topologies, and protocols. SANs may also span multiple sites.
Another benefit is that sharing storage usually simplifies storage administration and adds flexibility since cables and storage devices do not have to be physically moved to shift storage from one server to another.
Other benefits include the ability to allow servers to boot from the SAN itself. This allows for a quick and easy replacement of faulty servers since the SAN can be reconfigured so that a replacement server can use the LUN of the faulty server.
SANs also tend to enable more effective disaster recovery processes. A SAN could span a distant location containing a secondary storage array. This enables storage replication either implemented by disk array controllers, by server software, or by specialized SAN devices
SANs Simplify Backup and Recovery
A Storage Area Network can be particularly helpful in backup and disaster recovery settings. Within a SAN, data can be transferred from one storage device to another without interacting with a server. This speeds up the backup process and eliminates 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 span longer distances geographically. That makes it more feasible for companies to keep their backup data in remote locations.Utilizing a SAN can also simplify some management tasks, potentially allowing organizations to hire fewer IT workers or to free up some IT workers for other tasks. It's also possible to boot servers from a SAN, which can reduce the time and hassles involved in replacing a server.