ABSTRACT Many IT organizations today are scratching their heads debating whether the advantages of implementing a SAN solution

justify the associated costs. Others are trying to get a handle on today's storage options and whether SAN is simply Network Attached Storage spelled backwards. In this article, I introduce the basic purpose and function of a SAN and examine its role in modern network environments. I also look at how SANs meet the network storage needs of today's organizations and answer the question, could a SAN be right for you. Peel away the layers of even the most complex technologies and you are likely to find that they provide the most basic of functions. This is certainly true of storage area networks (SANs). Behind the acronyms and revolutionary headlines, lies a technology designed to provide a way of offering one of the oldest of network services, that of making access to data storage devices available to clients. In very basic terms, a SAN can be anything from two servers on a network accessing a central pool of storage devices to several thousand servers accessing many millions of megabytes of storage. Conceptually, a SAN can be thought of as a separate network of storage devices physically removed from, but still connected to, the network. SANs evolved from the concept of taking storage devices, and therefore storage traffic, off the LAN and creating a separate back-end network designed specifically for data.

INTRODUCTION A storage area network (SAN) is a high-speed special-purpose network (or subnetwork) that interconnects different kinds of data storage devices with associated data servers on behalf of a larger network of users. Typically, a storage area network is part of the overall network of computing resources for an enterprise. A storage area network is usually clustered in close proximity to other computing resources such as mainframes but may also extend to remote locations for backup and archival storage, using wide area network carrier technologies such as ATM or SONET.

Figure: a typical SAN A storage area network can use existing communication technology such as IBM's optical fiber ESCON or use Fibre Channel technology. Some SAN system integrators liken it to the common storage bus (flow of data) in a personal

computer that is shared by different kinds of storage devices such as a hard disk or a CD-ROM player.

FUNCTION OF A SAN SANs support disk mirroring, backup and restore, archival and retrieval of archived data, data migration from one storage device to another and the sharing of data among different servers in a network. SANs can incorporate subnetworks with network-attached storage (NAS) systems. SANs represent the evolution of data storage technology to this point. Traditionally, on client server systems, data was stored on devices either inside or directly attached to the server. Next in the evolutionary scale came Network Attached Storage (NAS) which took the storage devices away from the server and connected them directly to the network. SANs take the principle one step further by allowing storage devices to exist on their own separate network and communicate directly with each other over very fast media. Users can gain access to these storage devices through server systems which are connected to both the LAN and the SAN.

SAN AND NETWORK STORAGE NEEDS OF AN ORGANISATION This is in contrast to the use of a traditional LAN for providing a connection for server-storage, a strategy that limits overall network bandwidth. SANs address the bandwidth bottlenecks associated with LAN based server storage and the scalability limitations found with SCSI bus based implementations. SANs provide

modular scalability, high-availability, increased fault tolerance and centralized storage management. These advantages have led to an increase in the popularity of SANs as they are quite simply better suited to address the data storage needs of today's data intensive network environments. SANs are most commonly implemented using a technology called Fibre channel (yes, that's fibre with an 're', not an 'er'). Fibre Channel is a set of communication standards developed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). These standards define a high-performance data communications technology that supports very fast data rates (over 2Gbps). Fibre channel can be used in a point-topoint configuration between two devices, in a 'ring' type model known as an arbitrated loop, and in a fabric model. Devices on the SAN are normally connected together through a special kind of switch, called a Fibre Channel switch, which performs basically the same function as a switch on an Ethernet network, in that it acts as a connectivity point for the devices. Because Fibre channel is a switched technology, it is able to provide a dedicated path between the devices in the fabric so that they can utilize the entire bandwidth for the duration of the communication. The storage devices are connected to Fibre Channel switch using either multimode or single mode fiber optic cable. Multimode for short distances (up to 2 kilometers), single mode for longer. In the storage devices themselves, special fiber channel interfaces provide the connectivity points. These interfaces can take the form of built in adapters, which are commonly found in storage subsystems designed for SANs, or can be interface cards much like a network card, which are installed into server system

BENEFITS OF STORAGE AREA NETWORKS The advantages of SANs are numerous, but perhaps one of the best examples is that of the serverless backup (also commonly referred to as 3rd Party Copying). This system allows a disk storage device to copy data directly to a backup device across the high-speed links of the SAN without any intervention from a server. Data is kept on the SAN, which means the transfer does not pollute the LAN, and the server processing resources are still available to client systems. SAN or Storage Area Networks is a device like a storage devices that is connected to the network. This devices would appear like a local attached devices in your PC but in realty the Storage Area Networks is attached to the networks. Storage Area Networks are mainly networks separated from Lans and Wans, In other words, Storage Area Networks are composed of hardware and software, it has a storage resources which is connected to different servers. The hardware are the physical storage devices which has strong interconnection rate for faster transfer. The software part of Storage area networks are the monitoring of the networks and its configuration, It is also responsible for organizing the data of the network.The storage device in the storage area networks are design in such a way that it can be easily access in the network and can be access either by LAN and in WAN server. In the late 2000s, the cost and complexity of Storage Area Networks drop. This effect become beneficiary to both small and medium enterprises allowing them to integrate the Storage Area Networks to their business. The purpose of Storage Area Networks devices is to maintain and back up datas in the network. By means of using the Hi Speed Networks it can back up data in span

of seconds without comprising the integrity of Datas. The Storage Area Network can be called as a Storage device of a Network because of its function. Acting as resources and back up of the network. Simplification of Storage Administration is now possible because of Storage Area Networks cause cables and storage devices doesnt need to be moved physically. Moving data from one server into another is now a breeze. Thanks to Storage Area Networks. Life is much easier.

The other great benefits of Storage Area Networks is the ability to boot itself. Let say you have a problem with one of your server. You can easily replace it, Storage Area Networks can be reconfigured just in case you have faulty server by using its LAN features. Before, storage area networks process can take as little as half an hour. But this was before and now we can accelerate it.This is a great breakthrough in terms of backing up your data or migrating it. New products are emerging to further more accelerate the speed of transferring the data for storage area networks . The future of data center is still new but it will be soon available in the nearest time.

SAN Advance Features The boo-table features of Storage Area Networks can also be effective and enable during recovery of data because of certain disaster such as server failure or human error. Storage area networks are great tools in recovering important data and back ups. Distant location doesnt effect the storage area networks as long as the secondary storage array is working. This enables storage replication either implemented by disk array controllers, by server software, or by specialized SAN devices. Since IP WANs are often the least costly method of long-distance transport, the Fibre Channel over IP (FCIP) and iSCSI protocols have been developed to allow SAN extension over IP networks. In the old model like in physical SCSI layer, it supported a few meters of distance and no guarantee of business continuity when disaster strike.In storage area networks, the disk arrays has accelerated and consolidated in the features like I/O caching, volume cloning and snap shotting making business continuance possible or BCVs (Business Continuance Volumes). Storage Area Networks primary advantages are done through some virtualization, automation, integration and consolidation. Consolidation involves in unifying or centralizing the storage to improve stability. It reduces the intricacies of infrastructure and increases the efficiency rate of storage area networks. Virtualization, it accelerates the availability and enhances the space in storage area networks but in a lowering cost as well. Integration is more of organizing the system to obtained more needed information and achieved more organized data in the network. Automation can automate regular or habitual task which enable users focus on much more needed task and it also improve responsiveness.

Storage Area Networks is basically made up of plenty fabric switches. This switches is connected into a network, This type of devices is also called Fibre Channel Fabric Protocol. This device enables connection to different hard drive disk on the different servers of the network. For simpler explanation, Storage Area Networks is a collection of storage disk or hard drive which runs on its own network ensuring super fast transmission speed. HOW SANS WORK Data in SAN (Storage Area Network) can be stored using two basic modules as DAS (Direct Attached Storage) and NAS (Network Attached Storage). DAS is so named because it is a directly attached to a server without any intermediary network involved. Main distinguishing character of DAS (Direct Attached Storage) is its direct connectivity through a host bus adapter without the use of the networking devices as hubs, bridges and switches. In a network attached storage system, many independent clients can access the storage memory. The aim of the NAS (Network Attached Storage) is to provide only file based storage devices. DAS (Direct Attached Storage) can also provide multiple and parallel access if we equip this network with multiple ports. In the same way we can convert NAS (Network Attached Storage) to a DAS (Direct Attached Storage) by disconnecting the entire network and attach the port to a single computer. DAS (Direct Attached Storage) can be termed as an inefficient network because it cannot share its idle resources with other units in the network. DAS (Direct Attached Storage) and SAN (Storage Area Network) can overcome this deficiency but both these networks are costly and difficult to handle. Main DAS (Direct Attached Storage) protocols are SATA, SAS and fiber channel.

Figure: a SAN-NAS hybrid

Network Attached Storage or NAS is a method a common data on a network. It is a approach to store frequent information on a network. While several folks feel that NAS is only developed for companies but really it can be a excellent solution for home networking as nicely. A NAS device is just a small box which consists of a hard drive, a network card and a easy operating system. This network storage system is created to host one or far more hard drives. NAS devices are straightforward to use as they have limited characteristics and capabilities. Generally a NAS device works over TCP/IP and can be easily integrated into home pc networks. Direct Attached Storage (DAS): It is yet another network storage approach in which one computer or server gets directly attached to yet another 1 without having any special support. In an enterprise, offering a storage method that can be shared by numerous computers and their users has become a lot more efficient and easier to manage due to this. DAS is still extremely well-known simply because it is straightforward to deploy and its initial cost of deployment is very low comparing to other storage solution.

Storage Area Networks (SAN): It is a network storage method which is comparable but distinct from network attached storage technologies. It is a sort of neighborhood area network (LAN) which is intended to deal with huge data transfers. SAN storage technology are designed to supports information storage, recovery and replication on company networks utilizing high-end servers, several disk arrays and fiber channel interconnection technology. Organizing Storage Area Networks When an organization starts its small steps towards setting up a pc center, its usually a few servers hooked up on a local network. Users computers are connected to the same network to access enterprise applications running on those servers. To gain external access to the web, devices such as routers or modems are put in location. For added security, a firewall is inserted between router and the local network to weed out viruses and other unwelcome bits of data from the internet.

Figure: San Organisation As the organizations IT requirements improve, the server farm continues to grow until it reaches a capacity whereby it is no longer feasible to store data in each and

every servers local difficult disk. The a lot more efficient technique is to set up a Storage Area Networks (Storage Area Network) and relocate all data into it. Though it sounds like a splendid concept, there are some factors to look into prior to proceeding ahead. A Storage Area Networks is fundamentally a collection of storage disks which run on its own network to make sure super quick transmission speeds. Its important not to enable visitors from the server farm or local network to mix with visitors generated in the Storage Area Networks as it causes detrimental effects to both and can bring everything to a halt. To make sure fast response times when sending and receiving data, the Storage Area Networks runs on its own set of protocols and is connected via fiber channels for maximum bandwidth. Though regular Ethernet connections are less expensive, they are not able to handle quick speeds as needed by the Storage Area Networks. Since the Storage Area Networks (Storage Area Network) is one giant storage box comprising several pieces of hard disks, it needs its own management system to deal with its operations. No 1 server controls the Storage Area Networks as its disks are allocated to all servers. Via a central console, the Storage Area Networks administrator switches from disk to disk as although moving about all servers storage disk. As added security, local users registered to 1 server cannot access the disks of yet another server. Data Recovery and Data Back up of SAN Storage In the event one of the disks in the Storage Area Networks is faulty, depending on the RAID technologies practiced, the Storage Area Networks is able to rebuild information from the faulty disk onto a spare disk. Then its just a easy matter of popping out the faulty disk, replacing a good 1 into location and formatting it to readiness. If the Storage Area Networks is set up nicely, it plays an crucial role in

acquiring the organization back onto its feet throughout disaster recovery processes. Backup routines over Storage Area Networks are also much more efficient as compared to server by server backup. Prior to deciding to move all data into a Storage Area Networks, its recommended to check that the enterprise applications are able to support Storage Area Networks. There are some applications which need their information to be locally stored and may possibly pose a challenge when attempting to implement Storage Area Networks. Compellent makes deploying and managing storage area networks easy!

CONCLUSION So, the question that remains is this. Should you be moving away from your current storage strategy and towards a SAN? The answer is not a simple one. If you have the need to centralize or streamline your data storage then a SAN may be right for you. There is, of course, one barrier between you and storage heaven, and that's money. While SANs remain the domain of big business, the price tag's of SAN equipment is likely to remain at a level outside the reach of small or even medium sized businesses. As the prices fall, however, SANs will find their way into organizations of all sizes, including, if you want, yours.

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http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/storage/san/ http://www.networkworld.com/topics/sans.html