Storage Area Network (SAN) Management - SearchStorage.com

  • converged network adapter (CNA)

    A converged network adapter (CNA) is a single network interface card (NIC) that contains both a Fibre Channel (FC) host bus adapter (HBA) and a TCP/IP Ethernet NIC.

  • data center bridging (DCB)

    Data center bridging (DCB) describes the four technology enhancements to existing 802.1 bridge specifications standards being developed by the IEEE 802.1 Data Center Bridging Task Group.

  • Storage networking alternatives

    All the old standards -- FC, iSCSI and NAS -- are still going strong, but FCoE and virtualized I/O are waiting in the wings to help remake our storage networks.

  • Virtual Instruments improves SAN monitoring probe

    Virtual Instruments revamps its SAN monitoring probe offerings to include new VirtualWisdom software as CEO says the company is on track for IPO.

SAN management

  • Solid-state drives quiz

    While solid-state disk (SSD) devices offer faster speeds and consume less power than hard disks, the high price of solid-state memory has kept the devices confined to limited use in the data center. Storage professionals are now seeing more situation...  Quiz

  • Storage Decisions Session Downloads: Storage Systems & Networking Track (Chicago 2008)

    The core of any networked storage infrastructure is the basic hardware components: storage arrays and the fabric that links them to client servers and other services. Over the past few years, the trend has been to networks built around director-class...  Storage Decisions

  • Learn all about SANs

    Before a SAN administrator can size their SAN, they need to know how much storage capacity and performance they need, what SAN protocol to choose, and the proper RAID level for the SAN array.  Data Storage Handbook

  • Host bus adapter (HBA) architecture explained

    HBAs are integral pieces of a SAN environment -- they connect the server to the SAN -- but few storage administrators know how to configure them.  Host bus adapters (HBAs)

  • Storage area network final exam

    By taking this exam, you can evaluate your knowledge of storage area network (SAN) technologies.  Learning Guide

  • How to purchase SAN upgrades

    Every storage area network will inevitably grow to keep pace with the changing needs of enterprise storage. Growth implies more storage capacity, but raw capacity is just the beginning. Growth also means meeting the demand for improved SAN performanc...  Buying Guide

  • Learn all about RAID storage

    This handbook describes the different levels of RAID technology and explains how storage administrators can choose the appropriate RAID level.  Data Storage Handbook

  • Handbook: Best practices for SAN expansion

    Best practices for SAN expansion include options for integrating SAN and NAS or iSCSI and Fibre Channel, evaluating capacity planning tools, as well as upgrading switches, disk arrays and HBAs.  Best Practices

  • Storage networking equipment finalists 2007

    Find out who the finalists are in the storage networking equipment category of the 2007 Products of the Year competition conducted by SearchStorage.com and Storage magazine.  Finalists 2007 Storage Pr

  • Finalists for storage Products of the Year 2007 awards

    See who the finalists are in the five storage categories of the 2007 Products of the Year competition conducted by SearchStorage.com and Storage magazine. The categories are backup and disaster recovery software; backup hardware; disk and disk subsys...  Finalists 2007 Storage Pr

  • See More: Essential Knowledge on SAN management

  • converged network adapter (CNA)

    A converged network adapter (CNA) is a single network interface card (NIC) that contains both a Fibre Channel (FC) host bus adapter (HBA) and a TCP/IP Ethernet NIC.  Definition

  • data center bridging (DCB)

    Data center bridging (DCB) describes the four technology enhancements to existing 802.1 bridge specifications standards being developed by the IEEE 802.1 Data Center Bridging Task Group.  Definition

  • virtual LUN or thin LUN

    A virtual LUN (virtual logical unit number) is a representation of a storage area that is not tied to any physical storage allocation. Virtual LUNs are used in thin provisioning (also known as virtual provisioning) for storage area network (SAN) mana...  Definition

  • LUN masking

    LUN masking is a further constraint added to zoning, subdividing access to the port so that only LUNs authorized to access a specific server can access the corresponding port.  Definition

  • RAID (redundant array of independent disks)

    RAID (redundant array of independent disks; originally redundant array of inexpensive disks) is a way of storing the same data in different places (thus, redundantly) on multiple hard disks. By placing data on multiple disks, I/O (input/output) opera...  Word

  • storage area network (SAN)

    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. (Continued...)  Word

  • virtual provisioning

    Virtual provisioning is a term used by vendors, such as EMC, to describe a process of efficiently provisioning space in storage area networks (SAN). (Continued...)  Word

  • oversubscription

    Oversubscription, in a SAN (storage area network) switching environment, is the practice of connecting multiple devices to the same switch port to optimize switch use... (Continued)  Word

  • unified storage (network unified storage or NUS)

    Unified storage (sometimes termed network unified storage or NUS) is a storage system that makes it possible to run and manage files and applications from a single device. To this end, a unified storage system consolidates file-based and block-based ...  Word

  • fat provisioning (FP)

    Fat provisioning (FP) is the conventional storage provisioning model, in which space is allocated beyond current needs, in anticipation of growing need and increased data complexity... (Continued)  Word

  • See More: Definitions on SAN management

  • converged network adapter (CNA)

    A converged network adapter (CNA) is a single network interface card (NIC) that contains both a Fibre Channel (FC) host bus adapter (HBA) and a TCP/IP Ethernet NIC.  Definition

  • data center bridging (DCB)

    Data center bridging (DCB) describes the four technology enhancements to existing 802.1 bridge specifications standards being developed by the IEEE 802.1 Data Center Bridging Task Group.  Definition

  • Virtual Instruments improves SAN monitoring probe, software

    Virtual Instruments revamps its SAN monitoring probe offerings to include new VirtualWisdom software as CEO says the company is on track for IPO.  News

  • HP launches new 3PAR storage array, federated storage

    HP brings out a new high-end 3PAR storage platform and adds Peer Motion federated storage, which lets customers non-disruptively migrate data between 3PAR arrays.  News

  • Unified storage systems showdown: NetApp FAS vs. EMC VNX

    We compare EMC's VNX and NetApp's FAS series unified storage systems in terms of data services, autotiering and clustering. Find out what analysts and vendor reps think.  Feature

  • Should you bypass the hypervisor for storage I/O?

    Passing storage I/O through a hypervisor can seem inefficient, so does it make sense to bypass the hypervisor and allow virtual machines to mount data storage directly?  Tip

  • HP upgrades EVA midrange SAN array, launches virtualization bundles

    HP launches long-awaited EVA midrange SAN array upgrade; adds integrated storage-server-networking stacks to take on EMC Vblock; rolls out new Windows-based NAS.  News

  • SAN booting alternatives for data storage managers

    SAN booting and server virtualization are fueling the trend toward diskless servers. Learn about the move from internal to external storage, as well as other booting alternatives.  Tip

  • virtual LUN or thin LUN

    A virtual LUN (virtual logical unit number) is a representation of a storage area that is not tied to any physical storage allocation. Virtual LUNs are used in thin provisioning (also known as virtual provisioning) for storage area network (SAN) mana...  Definition

  • LUN masking

    LUN masking is a further constraint added to zoning, subdividing access to the port so that only LUNs authorized to access a specific server can access the corresponding port.  Definition

  • See More: All on SAN management
About SAN management

SAN management and administration of storage area networks includes information on RAID configuration, capacity management, SAN performance, troubleshooting and more.