file-area network (FAN)
A file-area network (FAN) is a set of technologies that facilitate file sharing and data management over a network.
FAN technology decouples data from specific servers or network-attached storage (NAS) filers, thereby separating logical file access from a physical file location.
There are six core elements to a FAN:
- Storage devices
- File serving devices/interfaces
- Namespaces
- File management and control services
- End clients
- Connectivity
Benefits of a file-area network include:
- Data can be mapped to a unified address space (UAS) and migrated transparently between network-attached storage (NAS) devices.
- Data Replication between NAS resources in the same or remote data centers, which improves data availability and Response times.
- Data can be moved transparently between tiers to ensure it is on the most cost-effective hardware platform.
- Improved user access to file-based data