Storage architecture

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

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1000BASE-T (Gigabit Ethernet) - 1000BASE-T is Gigabit Ethernet -- 1 gigabit is 1,000 megabits per second (Mbps) on copper cables, using four pairs of Category 5 (Cat5) unshielded twisted pair (UTP) to achieve the gigabit data rate.
3.5" SSD (3.5 solid-state drive) - A 3.5 solid-state drive (SSD) is a data storage device designed for the 3.
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 jointly developed by Intel and Micron Technology Inc.
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 uses only flash media for persistent storage.
application-aware storage - Application-aware storage is a storage system with built-in intelligence about relevant applications and their utilization patterns.
backup storage device - A backup storage device is used to make copies of data that is actively in use.
bit (binary digit) - A bit (binary digit) is the smallest unit of data that a computer can process and store.
block storage - Block storage is an approach to data storage in which each storage volume acts as an individual hard drive that is configured by the storage administrator.
blockchain - Blockchain is a record-keeping technology designed to make it impossible to hack the system or forge the data stored on it, thereby making it secure and immutable.
burn-in - Burn-in is a test in which a system or component is made to run for an extended period of time to detect problems.
byte - In most computer systems, a byte is a unit of data that is eight binary digits long.
cache memory - Cache memory, also called CPU memory, is high-speed static random access memory (SRAM) that a computer microprocessor can access more quickly than it can access regular random access memory (RAM).
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.
CIFS (Common Internet File System) - 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.
Cisco HyperFlex - HyperFlex systems combine software-defined storage and data services software with Cisco UCS (unified computing system), a converged infrastructure system that integrates computing, networking and storage resources to increase efficiency and enable centralized management.
cloud NAS (cloud network attached storage) - Cloud NAS (network attached storage) is remote storage that is accessed over the internet as if it is local.
cloud server - A cloud server is a compute server that has been virtualized, making its resources accessible to users remotely over a network.
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 gateway - A cloud storage gateway is a hardware- or software-based appliance that serves as a bridge between local applications and remote cloud-based storage.
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.
clustered network-attached storage (NAS) system - A clustered network-attached storage (NAS) system is a scale-out storage platform made up of multiple NAS nodes networked together into a single cluster.
CMDB (configuration management database) - 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 (information technology) services and the relationships between those components.
cold backup (offline backup) - A cold backup, also called an offline backup, is a database backup during which the database is offline and not accessible to update.
commodity hardware - Commodity hardware in computing is computers or components that are readily available, inexpensive and easily interchangeable with other commodity hardware.
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.
CompactFlash card (CF card) - A CompactFlash card (CF card) is a memory card format developed by SanDisk in 1994 that uses flash memory technology to store data on a very small portable device.
complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) - A complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) is the semiconductor technology used in most of today's integrated circuits, also known as chips or microchips.
composable infrastructure - Composable infrastructure is a framework that decouples device resources in order to treat them as services.
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 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 mart (datamart) - A data mart is a repository of data that is designed to serve a particular community of knowledge workers.
data protection management (DPM) - Data protection management (DPM) comprises the administration, monitoring and management of backup processes to ensure backup tasks run on schedule and data is securely backed up and recoverable.
Dell EMC - Dell EMC is an American multinational technology company that offers products and services across all areas of computing, networking and storage.
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) - DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is a network management protocol used to dynamically assign an IP address to any device, or node, on a network so it can communicate using IP.
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-attached storage (DAS) - Direct-attached storage (DAS) is a type of storage that is attached directly to a computer without going through a network.
disk image - A disk image is a copy of the entire contents of a storage device, such as a hard drive, DVD, or CD.
disk mirroring (RAID 1) - Disk mirroring, also known as RAID 1, is the replication of data to two or more disks.
distributed file system (DFS) - A distributed file system (DFS) is a file system that enables clients to access file storage from multiple hosts through a computer network as if the user was accessing local storage.
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.
EBCDIC (Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code) - EBCDIC (Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code ) (pronounced either "ehb-suh-dik" or "ehb-kuh-dik") is a binary code for alphabetic and numeric characters that IBM developed for its larger operating systems.
EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory) - EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory) is a user-modifiable ROM.
eMMC (embedded MultiMediaCard) - An embedded MultiMediaCard (eMMC) is a small storage device made up of NAND flash memory and a simple storage controller.
enterprise SSD (enterprise solid-state drive) - An enterprise SSD (also known as an enterprise solid-state drive or enterprise solid-state disk) stores data persistently or caches data temporarily in nonvolatile memory and generally provides higher performance and greater endurance than consumer or client SSDs.
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.
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-tolerant - Fault-tolerant technology is a capability of a computer system, electronic system or network to deliver uninterrupted service, despite one or more of its components failing.
FCoE (Fibre Channel over Ethernet) - FCoE (Fibre Channel over Ethernet) is a storage protocol that enable Fibre Channel (FC) communications to run directly over Ethernet.
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 switch (FC switch) - A Fibre Channel switch is a networking device that is compatible with the Fibre Channel (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.
file storage - File storage stores data in a hierarchical structure, usually in a NAS system.
flash controller (flash memory controller) - A flash controller is the part of solid-state flash memory that communicates with the host device and manages the flash file system directory.
flash file system - Flash file systems are designed specifically for memory devices.
flash memory - Flash memory, also known as flash storage, is a type of nonvolatile memory that erases data in units called blocks.
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 keep data for an extended period of time.
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.
FreeNAS Project - The FreeNAS storage operating system is compatible with most major protocols and storage hardware and provides file sharing in a NAS environment.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) - FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a network protocol for transmitting files between computers over TCP/IP connections.
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.
green storage - Green storage is the practice of using a variety of "clean energy" storage methods and products to cut down on a data center's carbon footprint, as well as cost.
hard disk drive (HDD) - A computer hard disk drive (HDD) is a non-volatile data storage device.
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 is the size or geometry of a hard disk drive, determining the device’s compatibility with the drive bays in a storage array or enclosure, server, portable computer or other computing device.
heartbeat (computing) - In computing, a heartbeat is a program that runs specialized scripts automatically whenever a system is initialized or rebooted.
high availability (HA) - High availability (HA) is the ability of a system to operate continuously without failing for a designated period of time.
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 and a NAND flash module.
hyper-converged appliance - A hyper-converged appliance is a hardware device that provides multiple data center management technologies within a single box.
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 stimuli that has meaning in some context for its receiver.
IOPS (input/output operations per second) - IOPS measures the maximum number of reads and writes to non-contiguous storage.
IP SAN (Internet Protocol storage area network) - An IP SAN is a dedicated storage area network (SAN) that allows multiple servers to access pools of shared block storage devices using storage protocols that depend on the Internet Engineering Taskforce standard Internet Protocol suite.
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 iSCSI initiator is software or hardware that enables a host computer to transmit data to an iSCSI-based storage array through a network adapter over a TCP-based IP network.
iSCSI switch (Internet Small Computer System Interface switch) - An iSCSI switch is an appliance that processes and channels data between an iSCSI initiator and target on a storage device.
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.

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