20-03-2017, 04:32 PM
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 can also span multiple sites.
SANs are often used to:
• Improve application availability (for example, multiple data paths)
• Improve application performance (for example, downloaded storage functions, segregation of networks, etc.)
• Increase storage utilization and efficiency (eg, consolidate storage resources, provide tiered storage, etc.) and improve data protection and security.
SAN networks also often play an important role in an organization's business continuity management (BCM) activities.
A SAN presents storage devices to a host in such a way that the storage appears to be connected locally. This simplified presentation of storage to a host is achieved 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 can also span multiple sites.
A SAN presents storage devices to a host in such a way that the storage appears to be connected locally. This simplified presentation of storage to a host is achieved through the use of different types of virtualization.
