SANs Demystified
Get up to speed quickly on storage area networks (SANs) in the real world. This detailed resource explains SAN technology and functions, showing how to manage, configure, and build your own SAN for a wide variety of applications.
TABLE OF CONTENTS SANs Demystified
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How Does a SAN Differ from a LAN or WAN?
A LAN uses network protocols that send smaller amounts of data with increased communication overhead, reducing bandwidth. A SAN uses storage protocols ( Small Computer Systems Interface [SCSI]), giving it the ability to transmit larger amounts of data with reduced overhead and higher bandwidth.
How Do I Manage a SAN?
Several manufacturers provide SAN management software. Running management software typically requires a separate terminal, such as an NT server, connected to the SAN. Connecting this terminal to a SAN enables additional capabilities, such as zoning, mapping, masking, backup and restore functions, and fault management. An alternative is Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). SNMP is based on TCP/IP and offers basic alert management, allowing a node to alert the management system of failures of any system component. However, SNMP does not offer proactive management and lacks security.
What Is a SAN Manager?
A SAN Manager is proprietary SAN management software that allows central management of Fibre Channel hosts and storage devices. A SAN Manager enables systems to use a common pool of storage devices on a SAN, enabling SAN administrators to take full advantage of storage assets and reduce costs by leveraging existing equipment more efficiently.
Can My Legacy System Be Integrated into a SAN?
It is possible to integrate most legacy SCSI storage systems and servers into a SAN environment. This allows you to leverage your existing investments because you can locate your storage miles away as...
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