Storage architecture

Definitions about storage and data management including backup/recovery vocabulary, business intelligence terminology, storage area networks and database management.

3D NAND flash - 3D NAND is a type of non-volatile flash memory in which the memory cells are stacked vertically in multiple layers.
3D XPoint - 3D XPoint is memory storage technology that was jointly developed by Intel and Micron Technology.
Adobe Flash - Adobe Flash is a software platform used to create rich digital content containing animation, graphic effects, streaming video and other interactive elements to deliver engaging user experiences over many platforms, including desktops and mobile devices.
all-flash array (AFA) - An all-flash array (AFA), also known as a solid-state storage disk system or a solid-state array, is an external storage array that supports only flash media for persistent storage.
Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3) - Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3) is a scalable, high-speed, web-based cloud storage service.
archive - An archive is a collection of data moved to a repository for long-term retention, to be kept separate for compliance reasons or moved off primary storage media.
asynchronous replication - Asynchronous replication is a store-and-forward approach to data backup and protection.
backup storage device - A backup storage device is a hardware component for storing copies of data.
bit (binary digit) - A bit (binary digit) is the smallest unit of data that a computer can process and store.
blade server - A blade server, sometimes referred to as a high-density server, is a compact device containing a computer used to manage and distribute data in a collection of computers and systems, called a network.
block storage - Block storage is an approach to data storage in which each volume acts as an individual hard drive that is configured by the administrator.
byte - In most computer systems, a byte is a unit of data that is eight binary digits long.
cache memory - Cache memory is a chip-based computer component that makes retrieving data from the computer's memory more efficient.
CD-ROM - A CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory) is a type of compact disc that can only be read, not written to.
CDMA (Code-Division Multiple Access) - CDMA (Code-Division Multiple Access) refers to any of several protocols used in second-generation (2G) and third-generation (3G) wireless communications.
cloud storage - Cloud storage is a service model in which data is transmitted and stored on remote storage systems, where it is maintained, managed, backed up and made available to users over a network (typically the internet).
cloud storage API - A cloud storage API is an application programming interface that connects a locally based application to a cloud-based storage system so that a user can send data to it and access and work with data stored in it.
cloud storage service - A cloud storage service is a business that maintains and manages its customers' data and makes that data accessible over a network, usually the internet.
cluster - Clusters are typically defined as collections or groups of items with similar or different characteristics.
cluster quorum disk - A cluster quorum disk is the storage medium on which the configuration database is stored for a cluster computing network.
cold backup (offline backup) - A cold backup is a backup of an offline database.
cold storage - Cold storage is a computer system or mode of operation designed for the retention of inactive data.
commodity hardware - Commodity hardware in computing is computers or components that are readily available, inexpensive and easily interchangeable with other commodity hardware.
Common Internet File System (CIFS) - CIFS (Common Internet File System) is a protocol that gained popularity around the year 2000, as vendors worked to establish an Internet Protocol-based file-sharing protocol.
compact disc (CD) - A compact disc is a portable storage medium that can record, store and play back audio, video and other data in digital form.
composable infrastructure - Composable infrastructure is a framework that decouples device resources in order to treat them as services.
configuration management database (CMDB) - A configuration management database (CMDB) is a file -- usually in the form of a standardized database -- that contains all relevant information about the hardware and software components used in an organization's IT services and the relationships among those components.
converged network adapter (CNA) - A converged network adapter (CNA) is a single network interface device that provides the functionality of both a Fibre Channel (FC) host bus adapter (HBA) and a TCP/IP Ethernet network interface card (NIC).
copy data management (CDM) - Copy data management (CDM) is an approach to reducing storage consumption that involves eliminating the unnecessary duplication of production data.
data archiving - Data archiving moves data that is no longer actively used to a separate storage device for long-term retention.
data availability - Data availability is a term used by computer storage manufacturers and storage service providers to describe how data should be available at a required level of performance in situations ranging from normal through disastrous.
data center capacity planning - Data center capacity planning ensures that an IT organization has enough facility space, power and computing resources to support average and peak workloads.
data protection management (DPM) - Data protection management (DPM) is the administration, monitoring and management of backup processes to ensure backup tasks run on schedule and data is securely backed up and recoverable.
data reduction - Data reduction lowers the amount of capacity required to store data.
dedicated cloud - A dedicated cloud is a single-tenant cloud infrastructure, which essentially acts as an isolated, single-tenant public cloud.
DIMM (dual in-line memory module) - DIMM, or dual in-line memory module, is a type of computer memory that is natively 64 bits, enabling fast data transfer.
direct access - In computer storage, direct access is the process of reading and writing data on a storage device by going directly to where the data is physically located on the device rather than having to move sequentially from one physical location to the next to find the correct data.
direct access storage device (DASD) - A direct access storage device (DASD) is a type of secondary storage device that supports direct access to the stored data, as opposed to sequential access, which is slower and less efficient.
Direct Memory Access (DMA) - Direct Memory Access (DMA) is a capability provided by some computer bus architectures that enables data to be sent directly from an attached device to the computer's main memory.
disk array - A disk array, also called a storage array, is a data storage system used for block-based storage, file-based storage or object storage.
disk mirroring (RAID 1) - Disk mirroring, also known as RAID 1, is the replication of data across two or more disks.
DRAM (dynamic random access memory) - DRAM (dynamic random access memory) is a type of semiconductor memory that is typically used for the data or program code needed by a computer processor to function.
DRBD (Distributed Replicated Block Device) - DRBD (Distributed Replicated Block Device) is a Linux-based software component that facilitates the replacement of shared storage systems by networked mirroring.
ducting (data center cooling) - Ducting is an approach to air management that uses a series of metal or plastic pipes to carry heated or cooled air from one place to another.
EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory) - EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory) is a user-modifiable ROM.
email archiving - Email archiving is a systematic approach to saving and protecting the data contained in emails to enable fast retrieval.
EPROM (erasable programmable read-only memory) - EPROM (erasable programmable read-only memory) is memory that does not lose its data when the power supply is cut off.
exbibyte (EiB) - An exbibyte (EiB) is a unit that measures data capacity.
external hard drive - An external hard drive is a portable storage device that can be attached to a computer through a USB or Firewire connection, or wirelessly.
external storage device - An external storage device, also referred to as auxiliary storage and secondary storage, is a device that contains all the addressable data storage that is not inside a computer's main storage or memory.
failover - Failover is a backup operational mode in which the functions of a system component are assumed by a secondary component when the primary becomes unavailable.
failover cluster - In computing, a failover cluster refers to a group of independent servers that work together to maintain high availability of applications and services.
fault tolerance - Fault tolerance is the capability of a system to deliver uninterrupted service despite one or more of its components failing.
FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface) - FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface) is a network standard that uses fiber optic connections in a local area network (LAN) that can extend in range up to 200 kilometers (124 miles).
FDISK - FDISK is a disk utility included in all versions of MS-DOS, Windows and Linux for formatting or partitioning a hard disk drive, or to delete different portions of it.
Fibre Channel - Fibre Channel is a high-speed networking technology primarily used for transmitting data among data centers, computer servers, switches and storage at data rates of up to 128 Gbps.
Fibre Channel (FC) port types - A Fibre Channel port is a hardware pathway into and out of a node that performs data communications over an FC link.
Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) - Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FcoE) is a storage protocol that enables Fibre Channel (FC) communications to run directly over Ethernet.
Fibre Channel switch (FC switch) - A Fibre Channel (FC) switch is a networking device that's compatible with the FC protocol and designed for use in a dedicated storage area network (SAN).
file server - A file server is a computer responsible for the storage and management of data files so that other computers on the same network can access the files.
flash memory - Flash memory, also known as flash storage, is a type of nonvolatile memory that erases data in units called blocks and rewrites data at the byte level.
flash solid-state drive (SSD) - A flash solid-state drive (SSD) is a non-volatile storage device that stores persistent data in flash memory.
flash storage - Flash storage is any type of drive, repository or system that uses flash memory to write and store data for an extended period.
floating gate transistor (FGT) - A floating gate transistor (FGT) is a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology capable of holding an electrical charge in a memory device that is used to store data.
Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) - Gigabit Ethernet (GbE), a transmission technology based on the Ethernet frame format and protocol used in local area networks (LANs), provides a data rate of 1 billion bits per second, or 1 gigabit (Gb).
gigabyte (GB) - A gigabyte (GB) -- pronounced with two hard Gs -- is a unit of data storage capacity that is roughly equivalent to 1 billion bytes.
green cloud - Green cloud refers to the potential environmental benefits that green IT services delivered over the internet can offer to individual companies and society as a whole.
green networking - Green networking is the practice of selecting energy-efficient networking technologies and products and minimizing resource use whenever possible.
Hadoop as a service (HaaS) - Hadoop as a service (HaaS), also known as Hadoop in the cloud, is a big data analytics framework that stores and analyzes data in the cloud using Hadoop.
Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) - The Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) is the primary data storage system Hadoop applications use.
HD-DVD (high-definition DVD) - HD-DVD (high-definition DVD) is a defunct high-capacity optical storage medium that was once seen as the successor to the DVD.
HDD form factor (hard disk drive form factor) - HDD form factor (hard disk drive form factor) is the size or geometry of a data storage device equipped with one or more magnetic-coated spinning platters and one or more moving actuator arms with magnetic heads to read and write information.
heartbeat (computing) - In computing, a heartbeat is a program that runs specialized scripts automatically whenever a system is initialized or rebooted.
holographic storage (holostorage) - Holographic storage is computer storage that uses laser beams to store computer-generated data in three dimensions.
host bus adapter (HBA) - A host bus adapter (HBA) is a circuit board or integrated circuit adapter that connects a host system, such as a server, to a storage or network device.
hot plugging - Hot plugging is the addition of a component to a running computer system without significant interruption to the operation of the system.
hot swap - A hot swap describes the act of removing components from or plugging them into a computer system while the power remains switched on.
hybrid flash array - A hybrid flash array is a solid-state storage system that contains a mix of flash memory drives and hard disk drives.
hybrid hard drive (HHD) - A hybrid hard drive (HHD), sometimes known as a solid-state hybrid drive (SSHD), is a mass storage device that combines a conventional hard disk drive (HDD) and a NAND flash memory module.
hyperconverged appliance (HCI appliance) - A hyperconverged appliance (HCI appliance) is a hardware device that provides multiple data center management technologies within a single box.
I/O (input/output) - I/O (input/output), pronounced "eye-oh," describes any operation, program or device that transfers data to or from a computer.
IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) - IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) is an electronic interface standard that defines the connection between a bus on a computer's motherboard and the computer's disk storage devices.
information - Information is the output that results from analyzing, contextualizing, structuring, interpreting or in other ways processing data.
IOPS (input/output operations per second) - IOPS (input/output operations per second) is the standard unit of measurement for the maximum number of reads/writes to noncontiguous storage locations.
iSCSI (Internet Small Computer System Interface) - ISCSI is a transport layer protocol that describes how Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) packets should be transported over a TCP/IP network.
iSCSI initiator - An Internet Small Computer System Interface initiator is software or hardware that lets a host computer send data to an external iSCSI-based storage array through an Ethernet network adapter over a TCP-based IP network.
JEDEC - JEDEC is a global industry group that develops open standards for microelectronics.
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) - LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is a type of flat panel display which uses liquid crystals in its primary form of operation.
LOB (line of business) - An LOB (line-of-business) application is one of the set of critical computer applications that are vital to running an enterprise, such as accounting, supply chain management, and resource planning applications.
logical block addressing (LBA) - Logical block addressing (LBA) is a technique to specify the addresses of blocks of data on a storage device, such as a hard disk.
logical unit number (LUN) - A logical unit number (LUN) is a unique identifier for designating an individual or collection of physical or virtual storage devices that execute input/output (I/O) commands with a host computer, as defined by the Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) standard.
lossless and lossy compression - Lossless and lossy file compression describe whether all original data can be recovered when the file is uncompressed.
LUN masking - LUN masking is an authorization mechanism used in storage area networks (SANs) to make LUNs available to some hosts but unavailable to other hosts.
LZW compression - LZW compression is a method to reduce the size of Tag Image File Format (TIFF) or Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) files.
M.2 SSD - An M.2 SSD is a small form factor solid-state drive (SSD) that internally mounted storage expansion cards use.
magnetic storage - Magnetic storage has been around in many forms since 1888 by Oberlan Smith, who publicized his audio recording on a wire in Electrical World.
magnetic tape storage - Magnetic tape is one of the oldest technologies for electronic data storage.
megabyte (MB) - A megabyte is a unit of data capacity that is equal to 1,000,000 bytes in decimal notation (base 10) or 1,048,576 bytes in binary notation (base 2).
metadata - Often referred to as data that describes other data, metadata is structured reference data that helps to sort and identify attributes of the information it describes.
Multipath I/O (MPIO) - Multipath I/O (MPIO) is a Microsoft framework designed to mitigate the effects of a host bus adapter (HBA) failure by providing an alternate data path between storage network devices.