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The Leader in Assured Content Delivery, Data Storage, and Load Balancing Presents Network Attached Storage (NAS) and Storage Area Networks (SAN)

This document discusses the differences between Network Attached Storage (NAS) and Storage Area Networks (SAN). NAS uses standard TCP/IP networking protocols to access file-level storage over a local area network, while SAN uses Fibre Channel to access block-level storage devices. Both technologies offer benefits like consolidation and scalability but also have shortcomings. An ideal solution uses both NAS and SAN together to provide file sharing to applications and users via NAS, while SAN provides a reliable infrastructure to connect large amounts of storage devices over longer distances.

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Diogo Alves
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110 views

The Leader in Assured Content Delivery, Data Storage, and Load Balancing Presents Network Attached Storage (NAS) and Storage Area Networks (SAN)

This document discusses the differences between Network Attached Storage (NAS) and Storage Area Networks (SAN). NAS uses standard TCP/IP networking protocols to access file-level storage over a local area network, while SAN uses Fibre Channel to access block-level storage devices. Both technologies offer benefits like consolidation and scalability but also have shortcomings. An ideal solution uses both NAS and SAN together to provide file sharing to applications and users via NAS, while SAN provides a reliable infrastructure to connect large amounts of storage devices over longer distances.

Uploaded by

Diogo Alves
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Leader in Assured Content Delivery, Data Storage, and Load Balancing PRESENTS

Network Attached Storage (NAS) and Storage Area Networks (SAN) Competing or Complementary Technologies?
Zerowait Corporation 707 Kirkwood Highway Wilmington, DE 19805 302.996.9408

The problem: Each new application server requires its own dedicated storage solution.

The solution: Simplify storage management by separating the data from the application server.

Benefits of Storage Networking Consolidation Centralized Data Management Scalability Fault Resiliency

NAS & SAN: Two Types of Storage Network NAS (Network Attached Storage) Storage accessed over TCP/IP, using industry standard file sharing protocols like NFS, HTTP, Windows Networking SAN (Storage Area Network): Storage accessed over a Fibre Channel switching fabric, using encapsulated SCSI.

NAS & SAN: What Are the Differences? 1. The Wires. --NAS uses TCP/IP Networks: Ethernet, FDDI, ATM (perhaps TCP/IP over Fibre Channel someday) --SAN uses Fibre Channel. 2. The Protocols. --NAS uses File Server Protocols: NFS, CIFS, HTTP. --SAN uses Encapsulated SCSI. Difference #2 is more important.

Raw Disk vs Filesystem:

Raw Disk (the "Warehouse") -- Identifies data by disk block number -- Transfers raw disk blocksFilesystem (the "Library") -- Identifies data by file name and byte offset -- Transfers file data or file meta-data (file's owner, permissions, creation data, etc.) -- Handles security, user authentication, file locking

Confusion: What's the Difference?

Clarification: Where's the Filesystem?

NAS ... SAN?

Desktop machines speak TCP/IP. (Nobody wants to run SAN to the desktop and manage two enterprise-wide network infrastructures.) Disks speak Fibre Channel. (Nobody expects to plug all of their disk drives directly into the TCP/IP network.)

Typical NAS Architecture

High Bandwidth NAS Architecture

Accelerate applicationsData sharing for NT, UNIX, and WebOffload file sharing function

Typical SAN Architecture

Backup solutions (tape sharing)Disaster tolerance solutions (distance to remote location)Reliable, maintainable, scalable infrastructure

NAS Plus SAN: The Benefits of Both

NAS and SAN Shortcomings

SAN Shortcomings --Data to desktop --Sharing between NT and UNIX --Lack of standards for file access and locking NAS Shortcomings --Shared tape resources --Number of drives --Distance to tapes/disks

SUMMARY
NAS --Focuses on applications, users, and the files and data that they share SAN --Focuses on disks, tapes, and a scalable, reliable infrastructure to connect them NAS Plus SAN --The complete solution, from desktop to data center to storage device

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