Network Storage
'What is network storage?' and 'Why do we use it?'
In basic terms, network storage is simply about storing data using a method by which it can be made available to users on the network. Over the years, the storage of data has evolved through various phases. This evolution has been driven partly by the changing ways in which we use technology, and in part by the exponential increase in the volume of data we need to store. It has also been driven by new technologies, which allow us to store and manage data in a more effective manner.
The 3 main types of Network Storage commonly deployed are:
Direct Attached Storage (DAS)
Direct attached storage is a storage device that is directly attached to a computer system. The simplest example of DAS is the internal hard drive of a server, though storage devices housed in an external array is classified as DAS as well. DAS by far, is the most common method of storing data.
Network Attached Storage (NAS)
Network attached storage is a data storage mechanism that uses special devices connected directly to the network infrastructure. These devices are assigned an IP address and can then be accessed by users via a server that acts as a gateway to the data, or alternatively allows the device to be accessed directly by the users without a gateway.
The beauty of the NAS structure is that it means that in an environment with many servers running different operating systems, storage of data can be centralized, as can the security, management, and backup of the data.
An advantage of NAS is the expandability; need more storage space, add another NAS device and expand the available storage. NAS also bring an extra level of fault tolerance to the network. In the case of a DAS, when a server goes down, it means that the data stored on that server is no longer available. With NAS, the data is still available on the network and accessible by users. Fault tolerant measures such as RAID, can be implemented to make sure that the NAS device does not become a point of failure.
Storage Area Network (SAN)
A SAN is a “network of storage devices” that can be sited at different locations and is connected to each other, even across the WAN. SAN's use special switches as a mechanism to connect the devices. These switches, which are similar to normal LAN switches, act as the connectivity point for SAN's. By making devices to communicate with each other on a separate network brings many advantages. For instance, the ability to back up data across your LAN/WAN without having to load the standard network infrastructure with gigabytes of data.
Syntellect assist customers who are keen to explore the various ways to store and manage their data sources more efficiently and effectively at the most affordable price.
'What is network storage?' and 'Why do we use it?'
In basic terms, network storage is simply about storing data using a method by which it can be made available to users on the network. Over the years, the storage of data has evolved through various phases. This evolution has been driven partly by the changing ways in which we use technology, and in part by the exponential increase in the volume of data we need to store. It has also been driven by new technologies, which allow us to store and manage data in a more effective manner.
The 3 main types of Network Storage commonly deployed are:
Direct Attached Storage (DAS)
Direct attached storage is a storage device that is directly attached to a computer system. The simplest example of DAS is the internal hard drive of a server, though storage devices housed in an external array is classified as DAS as well. DAS by far, is the most common method of storing data.
Network Attached Storage (NAS)
Network attached storage is a data storage mechanism that uses special devices connected directly to the network infrastructure. These devices are assigned an IP address and can then be accessed by users via a server that acts as a gateway to the data, or alternatively allows the device to be accessed directly by the users without a gateway.
The beauty of the NAS structure is that it means that in an environment with many servers running different operating systems, storage of data can be centralized, as can the security, management, and backup of the data.
An advantage of NAS is the expandability; need more storage space, add another NAS device and expand the available storage. NAS also bring an extra level of fault tolerance to the network. In the case of a DAS, when a server goes down, it means that the data stored on that server is no longer available. With NAS, the data is still available on the network and accessible by users. Fault tolerant measures such as RAID, can be implemented to make sure that the NAS device does not become a point of failure.
Storage Area Network (SAN)
A SAN is a “network of storage devices” that can be sited at different locations and is connected to each other, even across the WAN. SAN's use special switches as a mechanism to connect the devices. These switches, which are similar to normal LAN switches, act as the connectivity point for SAN's. By making devices to communicate with each other on a separate network brings many advantages. For instance, the ability to back up data across your LAN/WAN without having to load the standard network infrastructure with gigabytes of data.
Syntellect assist customers who are keen to explore the various ways to store and manage their data sources more efficiently and effectively at the most affordable price.