Storage Area Network and SAN Protocols

Storage Area Network and SAN Protocols

Storage Area Network (SAN) is a high-speed network or subnetwork whose primary purpose is to transfer data between computer and storage systems.

A storage device is a machine that contains nothing but a disk or disks for storing data.

A SAN consists of a communication infrastructure, which provides physical connections; and a management layer, which organizes the connections, storage elements, and computer systems so that data transfer is secure and robust.

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  but may also extend to remote locations for backup and archival storage. 

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.

There are a few SAN technologies available in today's implementations, such as IBM's optical fiber ESCON which is enhanced by FICON architecture, or the newer Fibre Channel technology. 

High speed Ethernet is also used in the storage Area Network for connection. SCSI and iSCSI are popular technologies used in the Storage Area Network.

Benefits of Storage Area Network and SAN Protocols

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.