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Does a SAN need a server for running services

A SAN (Storage Area Network) utilizes dedicated storage controllers to provide SCSI services without needing a traditional server. It operates at the block level using Fibre Channel or iSCSI to present storage to connected servers as if it were local disks. While SAN controllers manage storage processing, a separate server is necessary to run applications that use the storage.

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Sohail Ahmed Khilji
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5 views

Does a SAN need a server for running services

A SAN (Storage Area Network) utilizes dedicated storage controllers to provide SCSI services without needing a traditional server. It operates at the block level using Fibre Channel or iSCSI to present storage to connected servers as if it were local disks. While SAN controllers manage storage processing, a separate server is necessary to run applications that use the storage.

Uploaded by

Sohail Ahmed Khilji
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Does a SAN (Storage Area Network) Have Its Own Server to Provide SCSI Services?

Yes, a SAN (Storage Area Network) typically includes dedicated storage controllers or
storage processors that provide SCSI services over a network, but it does not require a
traditional server to function. Instead, SAN storage arrays use specialized hardware and
software to present block-level storage over a high-speed network.

How SAN Provides SCSI Services?

1. Dedicated Storage Controllers/Processors

• SAN storage systems (e.g., Dell EMC, NetApp, HPE 3PAR, Pure Storage) have built-in
storage controllers that manage and present storage to connected servers.

• These controllers handle SCSI commands and manage data access between the storage
disks and the connected hosts (ESXi, Windows, Linux servers).

2. Block Storage via Fibre Channel (FC) or iSCSI

• SAN primarily operates at the block level, meaning it provides storage in a way that mimics
directly attached disks.

• It uses Fibre Channel (FC) or iSCSI (Internet Small Computer System Interface) to
communicate with servers.

• The SAN device presents Logical Unit Numbers (LUNs), which are accessed by servers
as if they were local disks.

3. Storage Virtualization & RAID

• SAN controllers handle RAID, thin provisioning, snapshots, and replication.

• They ensure that data is distributed across multiple drives for redundancy and performance.

4. SAN vs. NAS

• Unlike NAS (Network Attached Storage), which operates at the file level and uses
NFS/CIFS protocols, SAN works at the block level and uses SCSI-based protocols (FC,
iSCSI, FCoE).

Does SAN Need a Server?

• No, SAN does not require a dedicated server for storage processing because SAN storage
arrays come with built-in controllers that provide SCSI services.

• However, SAN-attached servers (e.g., ESXi hosts, database servers) access the storage
as if it were a locally attached disk.
• A SAN fabric (switches, HBAs, network interfaces) helps connect multiple hosts to the
storage system.

Conclusion

• SAN storage arrays (not a traditional server) provide SCSI services to connected hosts.

• SAN uses Fibre Channel (FC) or iSCSI to present storage to multiple servers.

• It operates at the block level, allowing servers to use storage as if it were a local disk.

• While SAN storage controllers handle storage processing, a separate server (compute
host) is required to run applications using the storage.

Would you like help understanding SAN components like LUNs, zoning, or multipathing? 😊

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