What is storage architecture?
Storage Network Architecture is the conceptual structure and logical organization of a network whose main purpose is to transfer data between storage devices and servers and among storage devices.
Evolution Of Storage Architecture
DAS (Direct Attached Storage)
NAS (Network Attached Storage)
SAN (Storage Area Network)
Direct Attached Storage
It was the traditional storage Method. Basically it has it’s storage devices attached to it’s server. A specified communication path exist in between storage device and server. The connectivity was used to be on a dedicated connection separate from the network so the only way to reach the information contained in the storage device was going through the server connected to it. When storage unit runs out of space then new storage units are attached.
Network Attached Storage (NAS)
This storage system is kind of a upgradation to DAS. It is a file level storage architecture. In this storage system, storage elements are attached to a network which results in easy to reach information contained in the units. With this architecture the servers do not need a directly connected storage unit and it’s easier to have shared information systems.
Storage Area Network (SAN)
The storage units are connected to the servers but what makes it a better solution is that all the user traffic and the storage data traffic are separated. The servers are connected to the switches using both Ethernet and Fiber Channel technologies so the data that needs to go from one server storage unit to another is not using the same technology than the user traffic that is traveling through the data center. Using different technologies for the two different kinds of traffic and having switches that are compatible with both technologies is the best solution for Data center. Shared storage simplifies administration tasks and flexibility because all of the storage can be accessed from the entire network in a fast and reliable way.