Storage area Network Fundamentals, Storage area Network Concepts, Storage area Network Basics, Storage area Network Architecture

1. Storage Area NetworkStorage Area Network
 Servers and strand-aloneServers and strand-alone
storage devices,storage devices,
connected by aconnected by a
dedicated networkdedicated network
 Any server can beAny server can be
configured to access anyconfigured to access any
storage array and / orstorage array and / or
storage to storagestorage to storage
accessaccess
 Servers and storage canServers and storage can
scale independentlyscale independently
 Block Level AccessBlock Level Access

2. SAN TopologySAN Topology
 There are three basic methods ofThere are three basic methods of
communication using Fibre Channelcommunication using Fibre Channel
infrastructureinfrastructure
 Point to point Topology (P-to-P)Point to point Topology (P-to-P)
 A direct connection between twoA direct connection between two
devicesdevices
 Initiator can connect Based onInitiator can connect Based on
Storage front end portsStorage front end ports
 FC Arbitrated Loop Topology (FC-AL)FC Arbitrated Loop Topology (FC-AL)
 A daisy chain connecting two or moreA daisy chain connecting two or more
devicesdevices
 Maximum 127 devices can connectMaximum 127 devices can connect
 Fabric TopologyFabric Topology
 Multiple devices connected viaMultiple devices connected via
switching technologiesswitching technologies
 Maximum 16 million devices supportMaximum 16 million devices support

3. SAN: Strengths & LimitationsSAN: Strengths & Limitations
 Servers and storage canServers and storage can
scale independentlyscale independently
 Does not impact and is notDoes not impact and is not
impacted by LAN trafficimpacted by LAN traffic
 Provides higher availabilityProvides higher availability
 Best overall ROIBest overall ROI
 Initial Implementation costs moreInitial Implementation costs more
than NASthan NAS
 Can be complex to manageCan be complex to manage
 Requires specialized trainingRequires specialized training
 Interoperability is an issue inInteroperability is an issue in
heterogeneous environmentsheterogeneous environments
Strengths Limitations

4. DAS / NAS / SANDAS / NAS / SAN

5. iSCSI: What is it?iSCSI: What is it?
 An alternate form of networked storageAn alternate form of networked storage
 iSCSI can be used to transmit data over localiSCSI can be used to transmit data over local
area networks (LANs), wide area networksarea networks (LANs), wide area networks
(WANs).(WANs).
 Encapsulates native SCSI commands in TCP/IPEncapsulates native SCSI commands in TCP/IP
packetspackets
 TCP/IP Offload Engines (TOEs) on NICs speedTCP/IP Offload Engines (TOEs) on NICs speed
up packet encapsulationup packet encapsulation