07/02: Mass Data Storage System
Category: Technologies
Posted by: bagheljas
Mass Data Storage System is mission critical component for modern day’s deployment of Server Technology Platform in traditional, virtualization and cloud deployment models. Mass Data Storage System is also known as secondary and/or tertiary storage may connect to server technology platform using computer networks. The characteristics of these networks categorize the Mass Data Storage System as Direct Attached Storage (DAS), Network Attached Storage (NAS) and Storage Area Network (SAN).
The DAS is connected to server hardware via internal network / bus of the server hardware platform also known as traditional mass storage; that provides the best possible performance but lowest in flexibility for sharing and growth. DAS is still the most popular approach of implementing Mass Data Storage System for users that has well defined fixed requirements, tight budgets with high performance needs.
The NAS is attached to a computer which another computer can access at file level over a Local Area Network (LAN), a private Wide Area Network (WAN), or over the Internet. NAS is commonly associated with the NFS and CIFS/SMB protocols. The performance on NAS is dependent on the LAN, WAN or Internet but provides the flexibility to access from anywhere economically. The best use case for NAS is providing mass storage over WAN, Internet and Cloud Offering.
The SAN is a specialized network that is commonly associated with Fiber Channel Networks that provides other computers the mass storage capacity that is capable of matching the performance of DAS. The SAN provides the storage access at the block-addressing (raw) level, leaving it to attaching systems to manage data and file systems within the provided capacity. SAN is the modern day technology to provide flexible on-demand disk space for a server deployed in traditional, virtualization and cloud deployment models. The cost of implementing SAN is offset by the flexibility and performance it provides to an organization to meet the unknown demands and re-usability at the ease.
The DAS is connected to server hardware via internal network / bus of the server hardware platform also known as traditional mass storage; that provides the best possible performance but lowest in flexibility for sharing and growth. DAS is still the most popular approach of implementing Mass Data Storage System for users that has well defined fixed requirements, tight budgets with high performance needs.
The NAS is attached to a computer which another computer can access at file level over a Local Area Network (LAN), a private Wide Area Network (WAN), or over the Internet. NAS is commonly associated with the NFS and CIFS/SMB protocols. The performance on NAS is dependent on the LAN, WAN or Internet but provides the flexibility to access from anywhere economically. The best use case for NAS is providing mass storage over WAN, Internet and Cloud Offering.
The SAN is a specialized network that is commonly associated with Fiber Channel Networks that provides other computers the mass storage capacity that is capable of matching the performance of DAS. The SAN provides the storage access at the block-addressing (raw) level, leaving it to attaching systems to manage data and file systems within the provided capacity. SAN is the modern day technology to provide flexible on-demand disk space for a server deployed in traditional, virtualization and cloud deployment models. The cost of implementing SAN is offset by the flexibility and performance it provides to an organization to meet the unknown demands and re-usability at the ease.
Disclaimer
The thoughts expressed in the blog are those of the author and do not represent necessarily the official policy or position of any other agency, organization, employer, or company. Assumptions made in the study are not reflective of the point of view(s) of any entity other than the author. Since we are critically thinking human beings, the point of view(s) is always subject to change, revision and rethinking at any time. While reasonable efforts have been made to obtain accurate information, the author makes no warranty, expressed or implied as to its accuracy.
The thoughts expressed in the blog are those of the author and do not represent necessarily the official policy or position of any other agency, organization, employer, or company. Assumptions made in the study are not reflective of the point of view(s) of any entity other than the author. Since we are critically thinking human beings, the point of view(s) is always subject to change, revision and rethinking at any time. While reasonable efforts have been made to obtain accurate information, the author makes no warranty, expressed or implied as to its accuracy.