Difference between Storage Area Network (SAN) and

Network Attached Storage (NAS)

Storage Area Network (SAN):
Storage Area Network (SAN) is used for transferring the data between the servers and
the storage devices fiber channel and switches. In SAN (Storage Area Network), Data is
identified by disk block. Protocols that are used in SAN are: SCSI, SATA etc.
Components of Storage Area Network (SAN):
1. Node ports
2. Cables
3. Interconnect device such as: Hubs, switches, directors
4. Storage arrays
5. SAN management Software
Network Attached Storage (NAS):
In Network Attached Storage (NAS), data is identified by file name as well as byte
offset. In Network Attached Storage, File system is managed by Head unit such as CPU
and Memory. In this for backup and recovery, files are used instead of block by block
copying technique.

Components of Network Attached Storage (NAS):

1. Head unit: CPU, Memory
2. Network Interface Card (NIC)
3. Optimized operating system
4. Protocols
5. Storage protocols: ATA, SCSI,FC

AEGIS I-NET PVT LTD- GOOD-> BETTER-> BEST.NEVER LET IT REST “

TILL YOUR GOOD IS BETTER AND YOUR BETTER IS BEST.”
 Difference between Storage Area Network (SAN) and Network Attached Storage
(NAS):
S.NO SAN NAS/TH>

1. SAN stands for Storage Area Network. NAS stands for Network Attached Storage.

In SAN (Storage Area Network), data is In NAS (Network Attached Storage), data is
2. identified by disk block. identified by file name as well as byte offset.

In SAN (Storage Area Network), file In NAS (Network Attached Storage), file system is
3. system is managed by servers. managed by Head unit.

SAN (Storage Area Network) is more NAS (Network Attached Storage) is less expensive
4. costly. than SAN.

SAN(Storage Area Network) is more NAS (Network Attached Storage) is less complex
5. complex than NAS. than SAN.

Protocols used in SAN are: SCSI, SATA

6. etc. Protocols used in NAS are: File server,CIFS etc.

For backups and recovery in SAN, Block

7. by block copying technique is used. For backups and recovery in NAS, Files are used.

AEGIS I-NET PVT LTD- GOOD-> BETTER-> BEST.NEVER LET IT REST “

TILL YOUR GOOD IS BETTER AND YOUR BETTER IS BEST.”