This free video describes SAN architecture overview for all storage administrators and students.A storage area network (SAN) is a high-speed special-purpose network (or subnetwork) that interconnects different kinds of data storage devices with associated data servers on behalf of a larger network of users. Typically, a storage area network is part of the overall network of computing resources for an enterprise. A storage area network is usually clustered in close proximity to other computing resources such as IBM z990 mainframes but may also extend to remote locations for backup and archival storage, using wide area network carrier technologies.SANs support disk mirroring, backup and restore, archival and retrieval of archived data, data migration from one storage device to another, and the sharing of data among different servers in a network.
SANs can incorporate subnetworks with network-attached storage (NAS) systems.A storage area network (SAN) overcomes these problems by moving storage resources off the common user network and reorganizing those storage components into an independent, high performance network. SAN technology also supports storage features such as disk mirroring, data backup/restoration, data archiving/retrieval and data migration. Most SANs are assembled using three components: cabling, host bus adapters (HBA) and switches. Cabling is the physical medium used to interconnect every SAN device. FC SANs can use copper or optical fiber cabling -- the choice depends on the speed and distance requirements of the SAN. Slower or shorter distance connections can be made through copper cables; faster or longer distance connections are achieved through optical cables.
SANs can incorporate subnetworks with network-attached storage (NAS) systems.A storage area network (SAN) overcomes these problems by moving storage resources off the common user network and reorganizing those storage components into an independent, high performance network. SAN technology also supports storage features such as disk mirroring, data backup/restoration, data archiving/retrieval and data migration. Most SANs are assembled using three components: cabling, host bus adapters (HBA) and switches. Cabling is the physical medium used to interconnect every SAN device. FC SANs can use copper or optical fiber cabling -- the choice depends on the speed and distance requirements of the SAN. Slower or shorter distance connections can be made through copper cables; faster or longer distance connections are achieved through optical cables.
