SAN technology and arrays
Find news and information on storage area network technologies and arrays, including Fibre Channel SANs, iSCSI storage, SAN backups and SAN switches. Learn the difference between SAN vs. NAS architecture, the latest in SAN design and news about SAN array systems as they are launched.
Top Stories
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Feature
15 Nov 2023
Comparing RAID levels: 0, 1, 5, 6, 10 and 50 explained
RAID protects data and improves storage performance and availability, but it can be confusing. Read about the different levels of RAID, the pros and cons, and where they work best. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Jan 2023
Fibre Channel vs. iSCSI: What are the differences?
Discover how Fibre Channel and iSCSI compare when it comes to meeting SAN performance, ease of use, manageability, total package and TCO requirements. Continue Reading
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Feature
16 Sep 2010
RAID level comparison chart: A free download
Download our free RAID level comparison chart, where the most important RAID levels are defined, along with information about the pros and cons of each RAID level. Continue Reading
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Feature
15 Sep 2010
How RAID storage systems protect your application data
RAID storage systems improve application performance and data availability. Learn about RAID levels and choosing the right RAID technology. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Sep 2010
iSCSI storage area networks explained
In part two of our series, we examine the features of an iSCSI SAN to help you decide if it's the best SAN technology for your SMB. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Jul 2010
10 Gigabit Ethernet for iSCSI storage, NAS storage still hinges on cost
While 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10 GbE) offers greater bandwidth for iSCSI storage or NAS storage, IT shops still have to justify upgrade costs with their needs. Continue Reading
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Report
07 Feb 2010
iSCSI storage: Rising profile in enterprise data centers
Learn why iSCSI storage is infiltrating enterprise data centers, get five best practices for implementing iSCSI SANs in a virtual server environment, and discover some implementation tips. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Jan 2010
Director switch comparison: Brocade DCX Backbone versus Cisco Systems MDS 9500
Are you looking for director switch for your SAN? We compare the Brocade DCX Backbone and Cisco Systems MDS 9500 offerings in terms of latency, throughput and FCoE support. Continue Reading
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Definition
20 Jan 2010
virtual SAN appliance (VSA)
A virtual SAN appliance (VSA) is a software bundle that allows a storage manager to turn the unused storage capacity in his network's virtual servers into a storage area network (SAN). Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Oct 2009
Fail-in-place systems: Avoiding hard disk drive failures
Fail-in-place storage systems, such Atrato's V1000 and Xiotech's Emprise 5000 or ISE, can virtually eliminate hard disk drive replacement service calls. Continue Reading
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News
07 Sep 2009
Fibre Channel switch options for SMBs
Recently, the Fibre Channel industry has become more attractive and affordable for SMBs. This article explores FC switch considerations and products for SMBs. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
08 Dec 2008
Fibre Channel SAN switches tutorial
Learn all about Fibre Channel SAN switches with these articles on selecting the right switches and the best practices for managing FC switching environments. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Oct 2008
ISCSI SAN FAQ
ISCSI storage area networks (SANs) are frequently touted as a solution for small-midsized businesses (SMBs) moving to networked storage. But, why not just use Fibre Channel? Terri McClure, analyst with Enterprise Strategy Group, discusses the pros and cons of iSCSI SANs, the iSCSI SAN market and whether iSCSI SANs are really a good fit for SMBs. Continue Reading
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Quiz
25 Jun 2008
Solid-state drives quiz
While solid-state disk (SSD) devices offer faster speeds and consume less power than hard disks, the high price of solid-state memory has kept the devices confined to limited use in the data center. Storage professionals are now seeing more situations where the advantages of SSDs outweigh their cost. But how much do you really know about these high-speed storage devices? Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Jun 2008
A guide to storage virtualization
Few technologies are more confusing than storage virtualization. Without a guide to explain the different storage virtualization solutions, storage administrators who want to deploy this technology will be lost. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 May 2008
Determining the number of drives in a RAID group
How many drives in a RAID group will it take to give you the performance you need for a database or email or file server, or for that new VMware implementation? Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Apr 2008
Host bus adapter (HBA) architecture explained
HBAs are integral pieces of a SAN environment -- they connect the server to the SAN -- but few storage administrators know how to configure them. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Apr 2008
How to size a SAN
If your DAS storage infrastructure has reached its limits, or your existing SAN is out of date or just plain end-of-life, your first step will be to know what your storage requirements are. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
04 Apr 2008
SAN technology quiz
By taking this exam, you can evaluate your knowledge of storage area network (SAN) technologies. Continue Reading
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Answer
29 Oct 2007
How to calculate available disk space on a RAID 5
Storage management expert Ashley D'Costa answers a reader's question: "How do I calculate the disk space available on my RAID 5?" Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Jul 2007
Using SAS and SATA for tiered storage
This podcast offers detailed information about SAS and SATA so you can strike the right balance between SAS and SATA in a tiered storage environment. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Jun 2007
RAID levels defined
This tip offers a listing of the RAID levels in use today and details the characteristics and applications of each. Continue Reading
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Answer
18 Jun 2007
RAID 4 vs. RAID 5
Storage management expert Ashley D'Costa discusses RAID 4 vs. RAID 5. Continue Reading
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Feature
06 Jun 2007
LUN management at the heart of SAN configuration
LUNs are the basic vehicle for delivering storage, but provisioning SAN storage isn't just a matter of creating LUNs or volumes; the SAN fabric itself must be configured so that disks and their LUNs are matched to the appropriate servers. Proper configuration helps to manage storage traffic and maintain SAN security by preventing any server from accessing any LUN. Continue Reading
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Answer
03 May 2007
RAID-5 configuration
Storage management expert Ashley D'Costa answers a reader's question about RAID-5. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Jan 2007
Block and file access unite with multiprotocol storage
This tip looks at the pros and cons, as well as when and where to deploy multiprotocol storage, which is also referred to as "unified" storage. Continue Reading
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Answer
04 Jan 2007
Hard zoning vs. soft zoning
SAN expert Greg Schulz explains the difference between hard and soft zoning. Continue Reading
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Definition
15 Sep 2006
hard drive shredder
A hard drive shredder is a mechanical device that physically destroys old hard drives in such a way that the data they contain cannot be recovered. Continue Reading