Storage Networks - FAQs

* What Is a Storage Network?
Storage Nework Is the networking of Storage devices & Host/servers, designed & implimented to provide pool of Storage resources mainly to fullfill the exponential need of storage backbone for small & medium offices, Mid-range & large Enterprises.
in other words any network designed to provide Storage solutions to the perticular organizations.

* What are the main technical architectures a storage network may comprise of?
A typical Storage Network may comprises of one or many of the following architectures designed & implimented;
* Direct Attached Storage Architecture (DAS)
* Storage Area Network Architecture (SAN)
* Network Attached Storage Architecture (NAS)

What are the main Physical Components of DAS in storage network?
* SCSI based DAS: Host/Servers, SCSI HBAs/RAID Controllers, SCSI Storage Subsystems (Disks & JBOD).
* SATA based DAS: Host/Servers, SATA HBAs/RAID Controllers, SATA Storage Subsystems (Disks & JBOD).
* SAS based DAS: Host/Servers, SAS HBAs/RAID Controllers, SAS Storage Subsystems (Disks & JBOD).
* FC based DAS: Host/Servers, FC HBAs/RAID Controllers, FC Storage Subsystems (JBOD).

What are the main Physical Components of SAN in storage network?
* FC based SAN: Host/Servers, FC HBAs, FC Switches, FC Storage Subsystems, SFPs/GBICs, FC Cables & Connectors.
* iSCSI based SAN: Host/Servers, iSCSI HBAs, Ethernet Switches, iSCSI Storage Subsystems, ethernet Cables & Connectors.

What are the main Physical Components of NAS in storage network?
* Ethernet/NIC, ethernet Switches, NAS Filers or Appliances (storage subsystems).
* Software File system is important component in NAS & CIFS is used for Windows, NFS is used for Unix flavours.

List some of the advanced storage technologies being designed & implimented currently relevent to Storage Networks?
* SAS Technology - mainly as Drive-side interface for Hard disks, Enclosure/JBODs & storage subsystems(used in SAN). Complimentory to SCSI technology.
* iSCSI Technology - mainly designed as Network-side & Host-Side transport media and connectivity. Complimentory to Fibre Channel technology (FC) in SAN architecture.
* Virtualization Technology - Mainly virtualizing every possible physical resources into logical resources in Storage Networks.
Note:- Host-based Virtualization (ex: Xensource, VMWARE), Network-based Virtualization (ex: SVM appliance), Storage-Based Virtualization (ex:Snap copy, Mirror copy).
* Infiniband technology - entirely new I/O architecture, new standards based & predicted as the most dominent Storage technology in the future.
* FCOE Technology - Mainly Fibre Channel Over Ethernet (FCOE) technology, expected to be complimentory technology to SAN Architecture.
* other Technologies.

Do you think diverse multiple technology in Storage networks leads to confusion to customers?
* yes, Because customer's need for storage infrastructure may not be fulfilled by any perticular technology & Customer might end up with wrong selections due to confusion.
* yes, Because Customer might not be having enough knowledge of different available technologies & customer might end up selecting insufficient technology due to technical limitations of specific technology.
* No, Because Customer with enough storage knowledge will have multiple solutions/options to fulfill his needs by using diverse technologies.
* No, Because Diverse multiple technologies compete each other in terms of providing Cost effective solutions & inturn reduces customer's expenditure on storage infrastracture.
Hence, i belive its better to have multiple solutions rather than not having solutions.