SAN SUPER IMP Questions and Solns

VTU previous year paper analysis by YouTuber Afnan Marquee. The questions present in this
document are repeated 5+ times in previous year papers. So don't miss it by any chance! For
video explanation, check out my YouTube Channel!

Module 1
Questions
1. What is data center? List the core components of data center. Explain the
characteristics of data center.
2. Discuss volume manager and compute virtualization in detail.
3. Explain with neat diagram evolution of storage architecture
4. What is protocol? Explain the popular interface protocols used for host to storage
communications.
5. Discuss the process of mapping user files to disk storage with a neat diagram.
6. Numerical Type Questions

Solutions
1. What is data center? List the core components of data center. Explain the
characteristics of data center.

where program runing

 Key Characteristics for Data Center Elements

2. Discuss volume manager and compute virtualization in detail.

Compute virtualization
i is a technology that allows a single physical computer to run multiple virtual machines.
ii Each virtual machine has its own operating system and software applications, and is isolated
from other virtual machines running on the same physical computer.
iii The computer's hardware resources, such as CPU, memory, and storage, are partitioned into
multiple virtual environments.
iv It also enables easier management of software applications,
v Compute virtualization simplifies disaster recovery and system maintenance,
volume manager
i software tool used to manage and control the storage devices attached to a computer system.
ii It allows the user to create, resize, and manage logical volumes,
iii connect the phycical storage to os
iv Volume managers provide features such as data redundancy, data striping, and mirroring,
which enhance data protection
v Data redundancy means that the same data is stored on multiple disks,
vi Data striping means that data is split across multiple disks,
vii Mirroring means that data is duplicated on multiple disks in real-time,
3. Explain with neat diagram evolution of storage architecture

4. What is protocol? Explain the popular interface protocols used for host to storage
communications.
5. Discuss the process of mapping user files to disk storage with a neat diagram.

logical volume manager

Module 2
Questions
1. What is RAID? Explain RAID techniques and levels.
2. Explain in detail the cache components of Intelligent Storage Systems. Also mention
its types.
3. With a neat diagram, explain the structure of read and write operations.
4. Explain with a neat diagram the components of Fiber Channels (FC) storage area networks.
5. Numericals

Solutions
1. What is RAID? Explain RAID techniques and levels.

"RAID" stands for Redundant Array of Independent Disks. It is

a data storage technology that combines multiple physical hard
drives into a single logical unit to improve performance,
reliability, or both. RAID is typically used in server environments
and other high-demand computing systems.
2. Explain in detail the cache components of Intelligent Storage Systems. Also mention
its types.
3. With a neat diagram, explain the structure of read and write operations.

Write-Back Cache: Write-back cache is a caching technique used in computer systems, particularly in storage
systems like hard drives and RAID arrays. When data is written to a storage device with write-back cache
enabled, the data is first written to a cache memory (the cache) instead of directly to the main storage. The
system considers the write operation as complete once it is written to the cache, resulting in faster write
performance.
Write-Through Cache: Write-through cache, on the other hand, is a caching technique where data
is written simultaneously to both the cache and the main storage. When a write operation is
performed, the data is written to the cache and then immediately written to the main storage. This
ensures that the data is always up to date in both the cache and the main storage, providing data
consistency.

i High-speed networking interfaces such as Fibre Channel,

between storage devices and servers.
ii Large amounts of memory and storage capacity, terabytes ,
petabytes, to store and manage large volumes of data.
 Moderate storage capacity,
Moderate performance,

4. Explain with a neat diagram the components of Fiber Channels (FC) storage area networks.
Module 3
Questions
1. With diagram explain iSCSI implementation (Diff topologies)
2. What is NAS? Explain NAS implementation, components and its benefits.
3. What is FCIP? Explain FCIP protocol stack.

Solutions
1. With diagram explain iSCSI implementation (Diff topologies)
2. What is NAS? Explain NAS implementation, components and its benefits.

network attached storage

ex ftp
p2p
dfs
3. What is FCIP? Explain FCIP protocol stack.
Module 4
1. Define Business Continuity. Explain BC terminology in detail.
2. Discuss different Backup Topologies.
3. Explain backup and restore operations with a neat diagram.
4. Explain BC planning life cycle.
5. Define the following terminologies: 1) MTBF 2) RPO 3) MTTR 4) RTO
6. Describe the failure analysis in BC.

Solutions
1. Define Business Continuity. Explain BC terminology in detail.
2. Discuss different Backup Topologies.
4. Explain BC planning life cycle.
5. Define the following terminologies: 1) MTBF 2) RPO 3) MTTR 4) RTO
6. Describe the failure analysis in BC.
Module 5 Replication is one of the ways to ensure BC. It is the process to create an exact copy
(replica)
Questions of data. These replica copies are used for restore and restart operations if data loss occurs.
1. List various uses of local replication. Explain storage array based and host based
methods with a neat diagram.
2. Differentiate between Synchronous and Asynchronous based remote replication
model.
3. List and explain different storage infrastructure management activities in detail.
4. Write a short note on the following:
i) Network based remote replication ii) Risk Triads and iii) Threats
5. What are the storage security domains. Explain FC-SAN, NAS and IP-SAN.
6. Explain remote replication technologies.

Solutions
1. List various uses of local replication. Explain storage array based and host based
methods with a neat diagram. Replication can be classified into two major categories:
local and remote.
Local replication refers to replicating data within the same
array or the same data centre.
Remote replication refers to replicating data at a remote site.

Local replication Technologies

LVM (logical volume management)

Three component, (i) physical volume (ii) vloume group (iii) logical voulume.
Volume group created by physical volume
Logical group created within volume group
Each logical block is mapped with physical block
 Full volume replication: This technique involves replicating an
entire volume or disk to a secondary storage device. less
expensive

Full volume mirroring: This technique involves creating an exact copy of a volume or disk on a secondary storage
device. Any changes made to the primary volume are automatically replicated to the secondary volume in
real-time.
 are the three methods of storage array based local
replication.Pointer-based: This technique involves creating a pointer or reference to data blocks
in a primary volume and replicating only the changes made to these blocks to a
secondary volume.
2. Differentiate between Synchronous and Asynchronous based remote replication
model.
3. List and explain different storage infrastructure management activities in detail.
4. Write a short note on the following:
i) Network based remote replication ii) Risk Triads and iii) Threats
 threat refers to a potential security incident that could result in harm to an
organization's information assets, systems, or networks.

5. What are the storage security domains. Explain FC-SAN, NAS and IP-SAN.
ex: google file share
6. Explain remote replication technologies.
 remote bases technology

Host based :-
LVM (Logical Volume Manager) Log Shipping Database

Storage Array based:-

Disk buffered workflow
Network based:- CDP Remote Replication