This free video describes NAS architecture overview for all storage administrators and students.A network-attached storage (NAS) is hard disk storage that is set up with its own network address rather than being attached to the department computer that is serving applications to a network's workstation users. By removing storage access and its management from the department server, both application programming and files can be served faster because they are not competing for the same processor resources. The network-attached storage device is attached to a local area network (typically, an Ethernet network) and assigned an IP address. File requests are mapped by the main server to the NAS file server.

Network-attached storage consists of hard disk storage, including multi-disk RAID systems, and software for configuring and mapping file locations to the network-attached device. Network-attached storage can be a step toward and included as part of a more sophisticated storage system known as a storage area network (SAN).NAS software can usually handle a number of network protocols, including Microsoft's Internetwork Packet Exchange and NetBEUI, Novell's Netware Internetwork Packet Exchange, and Sun Microsystems' Network File System. Configuration, including the setting of user access priorities, is usually possible using a Web browser. Network-attached storage (NAS) is now a major player in the externally connected storage market, moving from simple filer to storage networking protocol provider. More customers are using NAS as part of their core data storage infrastructure to deliver file services and support business critical applications. As a VAR or systems integrator, you should be taking advantage of NAS features like snapshots and replication to meet customers' growing business storage needs.

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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.

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