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Direct Attached Storage (DAS) has in recent years been eclipsed by the Storage Area Network
(SAN), particularly in the enterprise environment. With this accountability, management and
ownership of support has moved away from the server Systems Administrator.

This has led to the development of the dedicated Storage Administrator, as there are today
dedicated Windows and Unix Administrators.

The basic roles of the storage team are to architect, design, plan, implement, administer, control,
and generally provide support and optimization of SAN and pooled storage systems, in
partnership with other teams and functions throughout the IT department. Some of the key tasks
a Storage Administrator would be expected to perform are listed below.


- Incorporates disk, tape, SAN, and storage software
- Resolve storage short falls
- Alert and resolve performance issues and advise end users
- High availability of data to all applications
- Data Migrations
- Replication


- Work with application developers to determine storage requirements
- Work with existing programmers, System Administrators and DBAs to optimize storage


- Maintain proper backup schedules
- Restore and recover data as requested
- Facilitate off-site storage of tape


- Disk usage
- Performance
- Storage availability
- Reporting on status

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- Forecast pipeline of storage growth
- Determine allocation of different storage and service tiers

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- Provide input from vendor proposals and input to requirements
- Due diligence on new software
- Drive vendor testing against test plan

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- Responsible for planning and execution of the storage installation
- Perform any host-level tasks need to access new storage.

Cloud Storage For Online Backup

More and more people and organizations are depending on online backup service providers for
added security for their computer files to be stored. There is a realization that most rely on these
data for them to function properly as many activities revolve around computers in these modern
times. Remote backup services have been considered the most reliable from the many ways that
data can be stored. However, there were still certain aspects that made people doubtful of its
capabilities. For example, institutions have varying degrees of storing requirements and the
administration had been too cumbersome to be considered. There are those that needed a
predetermined schedule for the data to be stored to be transmitted while others need updates just
as the original files is being changed. Cloud storage being used for online backup made the
industry more versatile. Aside from the main host, secondary providers can add specifications
thereby bringing the storage system closer for ordinary people to use.

Cloud storage is the next generation hosted storage system. Those who would opt for such
remote backup service can expect cheaper storage. This is because self-service storage is much
simpler to avail of. It is also more responsive and scalable meaning the hosted services can be
provided according to the demands of a person or an organization. Cloud storage users for online
backup can also expect to access and manage the data stored with no difficulty. Accessibility and
manageability has never been this flexible in the case of remote storage systems.

It has been able to remove certain components, such as directories, hostnames and permissions
that used to make storage systems complicated before. The simplification of the process paved
way for less time and effort to be wasted for the administrative processes of storing the data. It
can also provide presentation that enables data to be accessible to many different users at one
time. Cloud storage allows users to integrate data storage into applications in many different
ways.

As cloud storage enables storage organization that makes access to applications more flexible.
Whenever the users' demands change, it easily adjusts to its scale. This makes it possible to pay
depending on how much of the service a person or an organization have used. This makes this
service cost-optimized. There are also cloud storage providers that focused on developing
systems that allow infinite storage that operates in such a way that lots of data can be stored
redundantly. Because of that, people can design the software for storing files according to their
own specifications. This would be helpful for their storage needs. For the case of the ones in the
business of online backup service providers, it also means more potential customers.

Manageability, costs and accessibility had been a setback for storage systems before. Nowadays,
Cloud storage is friendlier to those who are not very accustomed to this infrastructure. Storage
systems can now be utilized without worrying have to pay for certain features that are not
necessary for the nature of the business a person or an organization has.

Looking for reliable and inexpensive online backup? We have everything you need to know
about online backup at http://www.buyonlinebackup.com

Posted by storagebaby at 16:36 0 comments

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SANs firstly originated to overcome the problems with Network Attached Storage (NAS)
devices, which like ordinary servers are difficult to manage and expand the capacity on. NAS
devices also add to the traffic on the network and suffer from the delays introduced by the
operating systems, network stacks.
A SAN is made up of a number of fabric switches connected in a network. The
most common form of SAN uses the fibre channel protocol (with Fibre Channel switches).
Alternatively ISCSI could be used with IP switches. Connected to the SAN will be one or more
disk array controllers and one or more servers. The SAN allows the storage space on the hard
disks in the Disk array controllers to be shared amongst the servers.
A SAN gives the ability to take all the disk drives off all mainframes and servers, then
concentrate the drives in a single location, and allow all the servers to read and write to any
combination of the drives simultaneously. As its name implies, a SAN is its own network, based
on fiber channel technology.

Fibre channel technology is capable of very high bandwidths, matching the ability of high-
performance disk drives to transfer data at their highest sustained rates. But unlike computer
buses and SCSI chains, fiber channel can be extended to very large campuses. A SAN based on
9mm fiber optics can extend to a 10km diameter.

Every server that is part of the SAN normally has a fiber channel interface to connect inward to
the SAN and a local network interface to connect outward to a conventional local area network
(LAN). The SAN switches are capable of connecting every server to every storage device on the
SAN, at fiber channel speeds. Above all, a SAN offers very high data transfer rates from disk to
server and directly from disk to disk. SANs transfer data at 100MBps. The current speed of
100MBps is comparable to the speed of a gigabit Ethernet but has the immense
advantage(compared to a LAN) that every server has intimate access to every storage device.

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Because of legislation that impacts the disposal of older, out-dated network and data centre
assets, it has become a reason that many executives are asking "why should I consider IT asset
recovery?" Since most business organisations don't have the necessary resources to carry out
disposal of this equipment in a reliable and secure manner, they are considering IT asset recovery
services. These can make sure that important data is disposed of in a secure manner and your
equipment is disposed of in an environmentally correct way.

Most IT assets or computer equipment can pose environmental risks and cause legal liability
issues, if not disposed of properly. The responsible recycling of electronic scrap, also known as
eScrap, involves dismantling, CRT glass separation, shredding, final sorting, commodity sales
and reporting. It is becoming increasingly regulated and more difficult to be in compliance with
proper disposal and documentation of out-dated IT assets.

Many companies are hiring IT asset recovery companies to handle all of the red-tape issues
involved, when updating their computer networks, transferring important data and disposing of
the old equipment. These companies can handle the vertical integration of disposal from pickup
through recycling and control the chain of custody to help reduce liability risks.

Information needs to go through asset recovery logistics, tracking, test and audit, data erasure
and destruction, as part of the IT asset recovery, to manage the retired assets efficiently and
securely. It takes a wide range of services in IT asset recovery to ensure that you are in
compliance and the data contained on the old equipment is secured and erased for security
reasons.

Even if some of the old IT asset equipment can be resold, you still need to be assured that your
confidential data cannot be retrieved, especially in the case where you have business transactions
that contain confidential or financial information.

Eliminating old and out-dated network equipment is more complicated than just throwing it in a
dumpster or deleting files and worksheets. Because the data is burned onto the hard drive of
computers, it is possible for a person to retrieve data that you thought had been deleted.

Some hard drives make a backup copy of data, even when the drive has been wiped clean and
reformatted. That is how law enforcement is able to retrieve previously deleted information on
criminal computers.

IT asset recovery companies know how to safely dispose or transfer the data and are subject to
stringent laws on compliance for data erasure and correct disposal or recycling of the equipment.
The best and most cost efficient way for most businesses is to hire the services of an IT asset
recovery company, when upgrading their system, or disposing of outdated network assets.

Because the legal ramifications on compromised data can be extreme and compliance on
environmental regulations carry stiff penalties, the most assured and competent way to dispose of
IT assets is through a reputable IT asset recovery firm. They will handle all of the necessary
tracking to be sure you are in compliance and that you can rest assured that your confidential
information is kept secure.

Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who writes for a number of UK businesses. For information
on Asset Recovery and secure data disposal, he recommends Network 24.
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Data deduplication is the process of eradicating excess data. It is also stated in other terms like
data reduction and commonality factoring. Data deduplication functions like a very sensitive data
distinguisher since it can separate duplicates of a file from non-duplicates and sets all duplicates
except one apart. It takes a short time to backup data since it can save files quickly.You won't
have to spend money every week since it would take months before your storage space will be
occupied.

What data problems do data deduplication settle?Is it an obligation to save all files found a
company's computer? Imagine an email you wrote to an employee. This employee hands over or
sends on this email to other employees. Another employee who found the forwarded message
sends this email out to more employees except that he changed one or two lines in it. This email
that was forwarded to many people inside the company is an example of a file that has been
duplicated many times and can cause data overload.

It is better to have the data deduplication program a component of an automatic data backup
programs. Large businesses create lots of identical documents around each employee. It would in
some manner lessen the number of files to store if we discard all duplicates. Counting a file of
1MB multiplied by the number of times it is imitated will result to a file of a huge MB. The new
feature will sort out all unnecessary files and you will only have to store a file of 1MB.
Naturally, making a backup for a 1MB file is faster and easier compared to when you backup a
100MB file.This is only a concise summary about the usefulness of data deduplication to our
personal computer data.

Backup programs were made easy with data deduplication and now it'll be effortless to employ it
with automatic data backup. Starting up a backup software on a computer is tiring. It is even
more tiring when you still have to remember to start a backup on the computer.At times we
choose to avoid doing a backup. Automatic data backup-- a software that permits you to do two
things at the same time-- working while running the backup. You do not have to create a to-do
list, you can just set up a schedule for backup on your computer. You can choose when to backup
your computer using the automatic data control panel set up. You are given control over the
automatic data backup schedule. Make up your mind whether you want to update your data
weekly, daily or monthly. You can run the backup anytime at any place. A prompt message is
enabled to remind you about the backup schedule.This prompt box will appear each time you
make an important mouse click on your computer like when you're shutting down the computer
or when you're logging off. The automatic data backup can also be set allowing it to run an
update whenever there is a network connection. Laptop users will unquestionably benefit on this
automatic data backup software.

This modernized world has created awesome tools that can help big companies work efficiently.
Two of the most popular data backup features are data deduplication and automatic data backup.
Data protection and storage is an added feature to backup programs. It updates your data and
restores lost files. Most of all, these new features has modified the process of data backup into a
more reliable one. Give your best to run an updated backup program to avoid future problems.
Also, there are lesser worries about the size of the data to backup because of data deduplication.
Don't lose your mission critical data, find out how Data Deduplication can save your business at
a critical time. Visit http://www.druvaa.com/

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Onsite storage simply means storing your critical data periodically or progressively over local
storage media such as hard disks, DVDs or CDs. Offsite storage, on the other hand, stores data
onto a remote server typically connected through the internet. Although both methods are
commonly used in the industry yet there are some vital differences between the two that can help
you determine which one to use under which circumstances.

Cost

One of the major differences is of cost. Onsite data backup may cost in terms of software license
and fees but on an ongoing basis, the overall cost is substantially reduced as only the storage
media is to be purchased. Offsite data backup involves a 3rd party server and bandwidth costs. If
your company's data is huge, the remote storage and bandwidth costs actually cost a lot which
can make you think twice before selecting a remote backup.

Performance

The performance of an onsite storage and recovery is much faster as compared to offsite backup
system. When you share backup your data using a disk drive, CDS or DVDs you actually are
doing it much faster as compared to storing it offsite. The same is with the recovery process
which again involves internet and special remote client software. There is a considerable network
delay as well in the case of offsite back up which is not an issue with the onsite data backup and
recovery.

Security

As a general rule, the backup data and the original source should not be at the same physical
location. If you use CDs, DVDs or had disks to store your data, you should store them at another
location. This is not a problem with the offsite data backups because they are already stored
offsite and often replicated to ensure maximum data security. The data in a remote storage is
encrypted too. It hampers performance but it is more secure as compared to onsite data storage
and backup.

There are many companies in the UK that can provide professional backup solutions to
companies and organisations in the UK. You have to perform an exhaustive search to look for
any such company but alternatively, you can contact Quote Bean to locate any such companies
and get free quotes. Visit this link for further information about remote backup, elated articles
and mo
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