SAN technology and arrays
Find news and information on storage area network technologies and arrays, including Fibre Channel SANs, iSCSI storage, SAN backups and SAN switches. Learn the difference between SAN vs. NAS architecture, the latest in SAN design and news about SAN array systems as they are launched.
Top Stories
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Feature
15 Nov 2023
Comparing RAID levels: 0, 1, 5, 6, 10 and 50 explained
RAID protects data and improves storage performance and availability, but it can be confusing. Read about the different levels of RAID, the pros and cons, and where they work best. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Jan 2023
Fibre Channel vs. iSCSI: What are the differences?
Discover how Fibre Channel and iSCSI compare when it comes to meeting SAN performance, ease of use, manageability, total package and TCO requirements. Continue Reading
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Definition
19 Mar 2024
RAID 50 (RAID 5+0)
RAID 50, also known as RAID 5+0, combines distributed parity (RAID 5) with striping (RAID 0). It requires a minimum of six drives. Continue Reading
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Definition
13 Feb 2024
disk array
A disk array, also called a storage array, is a data storage system used for block-based storage, file-based storage or object storage. Continue Reading
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Definition
02 Jan 2024
Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE)
Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FcoE) is a storage protocol that enables Fibre Channel (FC) communications to run directly over Ethernet. Continue Reading
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Definition
07 Dec 2023
HDD form factor (hard disk drive form factor)
HDD form factor (hard disk drive form factor) is the size or geometry of a data storage device equipped with one or more magnetic-coated spinning platters and one or more moving actuator arms with magnetic heads to read and write information. Continue Reading
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Definition
05 Dec 2023
hardware RAID (hardware redundant array of independent disk)
Hardware RAID is a form of RAID (redundant array of independent disks) where processing is done on the motherboard or a separate RAID card. Continue Reading
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Definition
29 Nov 2023
block storage
Block storage is an approach to data storage in which each volume acts as an individual hard drive that is configured by the administrator. Continue Reading
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Feature
15 Nov 2023
Comparing RAID levels: 0, 1, 5, 6, 10 and 50 explained
RAID protects data and improves storage performance and availability, but it can be confusing. Read about the different levels of RAID, the pros and cons, and where they work best. Continue Reading
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Definition
02 Oct 2023
RAID controller
A RAID controller is a hardware device or software program used to manage hard disk drives or solid-state drives in a computer or storage array so they work as a logical unit. Continue Reading
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Definition
19 Sep 2023
RAID 4 (redundant array of independent disks)
RAID 4 (redundant array of independent disks) is a RAID configuration that uses a dedicated parity disk and block-level striping across multiple disks. Continue Reading
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Definition
13 Apr 2023
RAID 0 (disk striping)
RAID 0 (disk striping) is the process of dividing a body of data into blocks and spreading the data blocks across multiple storage devices, such as hard disks or solid-state drives (SSDs), in a redundant array of independent disks group. Continue Reading
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Definition
24 Mar 2023
storage virtualization
Storage virtualization is the pooling of physical storage from multiple storage devices into what appears to be a single storage device -- or pool of available storage capacity. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Jan 2023
Fibre Channel vs. iSCSI: What are the differences?
Discover how Fibre Channel and iSCSI compare when it comes to meeting SAN performance, ease of use, manageability, total package and TCO requirements. Continue Reading
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Definition
18 Jan 2023
cluster quorum disk
A cluster quorum disk is the storage medium on which the configuration database is stored for a cluster computing network. Continue Reading
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Definition
10 Jan 2023
Fibre Channel
Fibre Channel is a high-speed networking technology primarily used for transmitting data among data centers, computer servers, switches and storage at data rates of up to 128 Gbps. Continue Reading
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Answer
22 Nov 2022
SAN vs. NAS vs. DAS: Key differences and best use cases
Compare SAN, NAS and DAS and find out what to consider when using each type of storage system. Object storage and the cloud are additional available storage options. Continue Reading
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Definition
18 Nov 2022
hard-drive encryption
Hard-drive encryption is a technology that encrypts the data stored on a hard drive using sophisticated mathematical functions. Continue Reading
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Definition
16 Jun 2022
converged network adapter (CNA)
A converged network adapter (CNA) is a single network interface device that provides the functionality of both a Fibre Channel (FC) host bus adapter (HBA) and a TCP/IP Ethernet network interface card (NIC). Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Jun 2022
RAID 6 vs. RAID 10: Which is better to prevent data loss?
There are numerous RAID configurations to choose from, but navigating the nuances of each can take a lot of work. In the case of RAID 6 and 10, both have distinct pros and cons. Continue Reading
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Definition
22 Apr 2022
World Wide Name (WWN)
A World Wide Name (WWN) is a unique identifier that is hard-coded into each Fibre Channel (FC) device by the device's manufacturer. Continue Reading
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Definition
22 Apr 2022
Fibre Channel (FC) port types
A Fibre Channel port is a hardware pathway into and out of a node that performs data communications over an FC link. Continue Reading
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Definition
22 Apr 2022
N_Port ID virtualization (NPIV)
N_Port ID virtualization (NPIV) is a Fibre Channel (FC) standard that makes it possible to create multiple virtual ports on a single physical node port (N_Port), with each virtual port appearing as a unique entity to the FC network. Continue Reading
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Definition
04 Apr 2022
Serial-Attached SCSI (SAS)
Serial-Attached SCSI (SAS) is a method used to access computer peripheral devices that employs a serial -- one bit at a time -- means of digital data transfer over thin cables. Continue Reading
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Definition
31 Mar 2022
oversubscription
Oversubscription in a storage area network (SAN) is the practice of committing more network bandwidth to devices connected to that network than what is physically available. Continue Reading
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Definition
04 Mar 2022
LUN masking
LUN masking is an authorization mechanism used in storage area networks (SANs) to make LUNs available to some hosts but unavailable to other hosts. Continue Reading
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Definition
02 Mar 2022
virtual LUN (virtual logical unit number)
A virtual LUN (virtual logical unit number) is a representation of a storage area that is not tied to any physical storage allocation. Continue Reading
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Definition
22 Dec 2021
InfiniBand
InfiniBand is an industry standard communications specification the InfiniBand Trade Association (IBTA) developed. Continue Reading
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Definition
21 Dec 2021
redundant
Data redundancy refers to the practice of keeping data in two or more places within a database or data storage system. Continue Reading
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News
14 Dec 2021
Nexsan Unity 7.0 boosts security, performance
StorCentric's unified storage product line, Nexsan Unity, hits version 7.0 and brings more protocol support, security features and performance for existing hardware. Continue Reading
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Definition
06 Dec 2021
hard disk drive (HDD)
A computer hard disk drive (HDD) is a non-volatile data storage device. Continue Reading
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News
03 Dec 2021
Seagate's 20 TB hard drives ship
Seagate has pumped its max-capacity hard drive up to 20 TB, with a version for the enterprise, Exos X20, and another for SMBs, IronWolf Pro 20 TB. Continue Reading
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Definition
12 Nov 2021
storage medium (storage media)
In computers, a storage medium is a physical device that receives and retains electronic data for applications and users and makes the data available for retrieval. Continue Reading
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Definition
02 Nov 2021
IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics)
IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) is an electronic interface standard that defines the connection between a bus on a computer's motherboard and the computer's disk storage devices. Continue Reading
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Definition
02 Nov 2021
host bus adapter (HBA)
A host bus adapter (HBA) is a circuit board or integrated circuit adapter that connects a host system, such as a server, to a storage or network device. Continue Reading
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Definition
21 Oct 2021
gigabyte (GB)
A gigabyte (GB) -- pronounced with two hard Gs -- is a unit of data storage capacity that is roughly equivalent to 1 billion bytes. Continue Reading
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Definition
19 Oct 2021
storage volume
A storage volume is an identifiable unit of data storage. It can be a removable hard disk, but it does not have to be a unit that can be physically removed from a computer or storage system. Continue Reading
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Definition
18 Oct 2021
storage capacity planning
Storage capacity planning is the practice of assessing current data storage needs and forecasting future storage requirements. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Oct 2021
What is SAN zoning and what are the different types of zoning?
Zoning can be set up according to server, storage and SAN switch. Discover what type of zoning to use, how zone sets extend SAN segmentation and the various zoning schemas. Continue Reading
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Definition
24 Sep 2021
secondary storage
Secondary storage is persistent storage for noncritical data that doesn't need to be accessed as frequently as data in primary storage or that doesn't have the same performance or availability requirements. Continue Reading
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Definition
20 Sep 2021
JBOD (just a bunch of disks)
JBOD, which stands for 'just a bunch of disks,' is a type of multilevel configuration for disks. Continue Reading
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Definition
18 Aug 2021
RAID (redundant array of independent disks)
RAID (redundant array of independent disks) is a way of storing the same data in different places on multiple hard disks or solid-state drives (SSDs) to protect data in the case of a drive failure. Continue Reading
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Definition
11 Aug 2021
SSD (solid-state drive)
An SSD, or solid-state drive, is a type of storage device used in computers. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Jul 2021
New HPE Alletra extends cloud console to Primera, Nimble
Hewlett Packard Enterprise's new Alletra storage brand will bear striking similarity to Primera and Nimble arrays on the operating system and management front. Continue Reading
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Definition
09 Jul 2021
RAID 10 (RAID 1+0)
RAID 10, also known as RAID 1+0, is a RAID configuration that combines disk mirroring and disk striping to protect data. Continue Reading
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Definition
08 Jul 2021
Serial ATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment or SATA)
Serial ATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment or SATA) is a command and transport protocol that defines how data is transferred between a computer's motherboard and mass storage devices, such as hard disk drives (HDDs), optical drives and solid-state drives (SSDs). Continue Reading
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News
24 Jun 2021
New Seagate Exos storage uses self-healing drive technology
Seagate's Exos Corvault petabyte-scale storage array introduces self-healing HDD capabilities to ease maintenance and adds erasure coding to protect data at lower overhead. Continue Reading
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News
17 Jun 2021
Infinidat expands beyond HDDs with new all-solid-state array
Infinidat's new all-solid-state InfiniBox SSA storage array is built on the same deep-learning software and DRAM cache technology that its flagship disk-based InfiniBox models use. Continue Reading
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Definition
16 Jun 2021
race condition
A race condition is an undesirable situation that occurs when a device or system attempts to perform two or more operations at the same time, but because of the nature of the device or system, the operations must be done in the proper sequence to be done correctly. Continue Reading
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News
05 May 2021
Dell Apex launches data storage, cloud as-a-service options
Dell's new Apex data storage and cloud services take aim at HPE GreenLake and other as-a-service options that bring the public cloud operating model to on-premises infrastructure. Continue Reading
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News
20 Apr 2021
Dell EMC speeds up PowerStore array, debuts lower-cost model
Dell Technologies launches new lower-cost PowerStore entry model and PowerStore software updates to enhance performance, automation, NVMe over Fibre Channel and Optane support. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Apr 2021
8 best practices for SAN deployment within SMBs
SMBs face a number of challenges when planning and performing a SAN implementation. Get out in front of an often intricate process with these best practices. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Mar 2021
7 signs a small business should shift from NAS to SAN
Take a deep dive into seven reasons, including performance issues and scalability demands, an SMB would want to ditch NAS in favor of entry-level SAN. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Feb 2021
Compare entry-level SAN arrays for the SMB market
Performance, capacity and data protection features are a few of the many factors SMB organizations should consider in their comparisons of entry-level SANs. Continue Reading
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Feature
14 Feb 2021
The best enterprise storage arrays of 2020
Vast Data, Dell EMC and Infinidat show that flash storage rules the data center in the 'Storage' magazine and SearchStorage Products of the Year 2020 disk and disk subsystems category. Continue Reading
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News
28 Dec 2020
Zadara VPSAs help power Pratum security services
Security services firm Pratum was ahead of the curve in adopting Zadara Virtual Private Storage Array (VSPA) storage as a service to quickly scale capacity and performance. Continue Reading
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News
25 Nov 2020
Dell still waiting for PowerStore to power up
Dell EMC's flashy new PowerStore array has done little to remediate the leading storage vendor's shrinking midrange market share, allowing competitors to gain ground. Continue Reading
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News
23 Oct 2020
NetApp cloud overshadows everything else at Insight 2020
NetApp stitches cloud services with its Data Fabric technology. NetApp Insight 2020 will showcase new cloud consumption options and storage for microservices-based applications. Continue Reading
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News
20 Oct 2020
Dell cloud shoots high with Project Apex initiative
Dell's cloud focus culminates in launch of Project Apex, which allows data centers to flexibly consume IT and storage infrastructure as a cloud-delivered service on premises. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Sep 2020
Comparing 7 storage network protocols
Compare characteristics of common storage network protocols, such as iSCSI, Fibre Channel, FCoE, NFS, SMB/CIFS, HTTP and NVMe-oF, to decide which one is best suited to your needs. Continue Reading
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News
24 Sep 2020
All-flash Vast Data storage trains AI data at LightSpeed
Vast Data LightSpeed combines bulk QLC SSD storage with Intel Optane acceleration. The system supports Nvidia beta technology allowing writes from storage to GPU. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Sep 2020
Managed SAN services aim to ease storage chores
Offloading SAN management to an MSP partner could free IT admins from an infrastructure component that sometimes gets short shrift among other data center priorities. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Sep 2020
How to deal with the challenges of cloud storage vs. SAN
Whether you're managing cloud storage or a local SAN, both have issues. Compare 13 areas where SAN and cloud storage challenges can arise and find out how to deal with them. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Sep 2020
SAN management best practices for optimizing performance
SANs consolidate resources and provide a high-speed network for storage traffic, but that doesn't mean you're off the hook when it comes to performance management. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Sep 2020
Advantages and disadvantages of using a SAN
SAN benefits include speed, scalability and fault tolerance, but the technology isn't without its drawbacks. Cost and complexity are big concerns for smaller organizations. Continue Reading
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Feature
14 Sep 2020
7 leading storage area network products and vendors
Before selecting a SAN product, learn which features seven market-leading storage vendors provide organizations of all sizes and how they distinguish their products. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Sep 2020
5 ways hybrid cloud storage is changing SAN management
Increasing reliance on cloud storage is changing the way storage area networks are managed and the challenges that SAN admins face in responding to business requirements. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Sep 2020
Troubleshoot SAN issues to improve performance
Common SAN problems include compatibility issues, hardware failures and sluggish storage response times, but a few proven strategies can easily resolve these issues. Continue Reading
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Feature
31 Aug 2020
High-performance interconnects and storage performance
Should you use InfiniBand or RDMA over Converged Ethernet as an interconnect? We discuss each technology's effect on performance features such as latency, IOPS and throughput. Continue Reading
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News
28 Aug 2020
Dell EMC storage revenue slides as IT spending contracts
The Dell storage subsidiary reported a revenue decline last quarter. PowerMax and VxRail were the bright spots in Dell EMC storage. New PowerStore is expected to ramp sales in 2022. Continue Reading
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News
27 Aug 2020
Layoffs put damper on positive NetApp storage earnings
NetApp storage growth was modest last quarter, despite the pandemic, but not sufficient to forestall layoffs. The cuts include engineers and sales professionals at SolidFire. Continue Reading
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News
11 Aug 2020
IBM storage GM Walsh leaves Big Blue for startup ChaosSearch
IBM recruited Ed Walsh in 2016 to revive its flagging storage division. Analysts credit Walsh for prioritizing all-flash and cloud data services. Now he’s heading to ChaosSearch. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Jul 2020
5 signs it's time for a NAS or SAN upgrade
It's easy to tell when it's time to modernize your storage infrastructure if you know the warning signs. Find out what they are and how Liberty Mutual Insurance handled its upgrade. Continue Reading
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News
08 Jul 2020
IBM stretches its Elastic Storage line to speed AI, big data
New IBM storage will help to optimize AI software used to analyze data and inference results. The disk-based Elastic Storage System 5000 scales to yottabyte capacities. Continue Reading
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News
25 Jun 2020
Startup StorOne incorporates Intel Optane
StorOne claims it will show the storage giants how to get the most out of Intel Optane drives, incorporating them alongside cheaper QLC SSDs in an all-flash array. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Jun 2020
SNIA's NVM Programming Model and how it works
The Storage Networking Industry Association spec provides a standardized approach to building a non-volatile memory-based storage system architecture. We take an in-depth look. Continue Reading
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News
11 Jun 2020
Pure Storage FlashArray gets file support, meatier DR
Pure Storage Purity FA 6.0 OS continuously replicates production data between FlashArray nodes. Pure FlashArray File services allow file and block storage to share flash. Continue Reading
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Infographic
27 May 2020
HCI vs. SAN: How to choose between them
There are many factors to consider when deciding between a SAN and hyper-converged system. Learn how they differ, which might be best for your organization and more. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Apr 2020
Make remote SAN management work in the age of coronavirus
SANs usually aren't configured to allow remote management. Find out what storage admins can do during the COVID-19 crisis to ensure their organization's SAN can be managed remotely. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Mar 2020
SAN vs. HCI: 5 questions to ask
SAN or hyper-converged infrastructure? Which one will become your organization's on-premises technology choice? Discover which approach may ease complexity and control costs. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Feb 2020
Top 2019 enterprise storage arrays win Products of the Year
Winners of the 2019 Products of the Year signal a shift from disk to flash storage arrays. Vast Data takes gold, NGD Systems wins silver and DataDirect Networks captures bronze. Continue Reading
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News
13 Feb 2020
IBM Storage folds Storwize arrays into FlashSystem line
IBM merges Storwize and FlashSystem platforms to simplify its storage portfolio on updated Spectrum Virtualize software; adds Optane and Samsung Z-SSD options. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Jan 2020
Top 5 storage area network applications for the enterprise
Find out why a SAN makes sense for enterprise applications such as databases, server virtualization, business applications, VDI, and development and testing. Continue Reading
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Definition
21 Jan 2020
logical unit number (LUN)
A logical unit number (LUN) is a unique identifier for designating an individual or collection of physical or virtual storage devices that execute input/output (I/O) commands with a host computer, as defined by the Small System Computer Interface (SCSI) standard. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Jan 2020
Multi-cloud storage, blockchain, NVMe garner reader attention
The multi-cloud vs. hybrid cloud storage debate, blockchain storage struggles and NVMe misconceptions were our most-read tips in 2019. See where storage admins are focused for the year ahead. Continue Reading
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Definition
03 Dec 2019
iSCSI (Internet Small Computer System Interface)
ISCSI is a transport layer protocol that describes how Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) packets should be transported over a TCP/IP network. Continue Reading
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Quiz
26 Nov 2019
NAS, SAN, or DAS? Quiz yourself on these 3 types of storage
It's not easy to choose and deploy a data storage infrastructure system. Take this test to find out if you're ready to assess whether DAS, NAS or SAN is right for your business. Continue Reading
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News
30 Oct 2019
Storage admins 'unleashed' in age of cloud
Storage professionals should feel 'unleashed' and empowered in the age of cloud to avoid the tedious admin work and hit the reset button by modernizing data center storage. Continue Reading
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News
09 Oct 2019
Hitachi storage refocuses on enterprise with new VSP array
Large commercial consumers have been the primary target for Hitachi storage systems of late, but new Hitachi Vantara VSP 5000 targets Dell EMC PowerMax enterprise storage. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Sep 2019
RAID 50: How to select the right RAID level
RAID 50 combines striping with distributed parity for reduced data loss and better performance. Is RAID 50 the right configuration for your organization? Continue Reading
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News
17 Sep 2019
Dell Technologies’ evolution offers hints of its future
Dell’s evolution has led the company from PCs to servers, storage and virtualization. Here, Dell’s storage CTO describes what could come next. Continue Reading
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News
17 Sep 2019
Dell storage dominance followed $67B grab of EMC, VMware
Dell packages servers, storage for EMC and virtualization from VMware into an end-to-end IT stack; how will it expand and deliver those pieces over the coming decades? Continue Reading
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News
12 Sep 2019
IBM Storage syncs new DS8900F array to z15 mainframe launch
New IBM DS8900F all-flash storage arrays conform to industry-standard rack size, boost performance and enhance security over DS8880 predecessors for mainframe and high-end systems. Continue Reading
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News
12 Sep 2019
Cisco MDS 9700 switches prep for 64G Fibre Channel NVMe-oF
Cisco's MDS 9000 networking products include SAN directors and switches. SAN Analytics adds support for NVMe over FC protocol and Ansible automation modules for storage tasks. Continue Reading
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News
18 Jul 2019
Infinidat storage wants to rescue stranded IBM customers
Infinidat storage takes direct aim at IBM with Data Rescue Program. IBM users can trade in IBM XIV and FlashSystem A9000 gear for Infinidat InfiniBox disk arrays. Continue Reading
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News
25 Jun 2019
Storage startup StorCentric takes flier on Retrospect backup
Retrospect backup software has survived a series of owners ranging from EMC to Dantz, and now is part of StorCentric's plan of acquiring storage vendors for midsize enterprises. Continue Reading
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News
10 Jun 2019
Rubrik backup, Compellent SAN power MoA data center
Mall of America IT director says she'd rather have her staff working on other things -- such as data analytics -- than managing storage and data backup. Continue Reading
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News
28 May 2019
NetApp, Pure misses raise all-flash storage questions
NetApp said 'execution challenges' cut into earnings last quarter due, in part, to changing data center buying patterns. All-flash vendor Pure Storage's losses grew to $100 million. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
10 May 2019
Managing NetApp CIFS shares with PowerShell
NetApp provides a feature-rich PowerShell module to manage CIFS shares. Find out how it works, as well as how to set up a new share and establish permissions. Continue Reading
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News
08 May 2019
Infinidat storage fabric sews disk arrays to hybrid cloud
Infinidat hasn't followed the storage array crowd into all-flash storage, but it is following the trends of adding flexible consumption pricing and storage analytics. Continue Reading
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Quiz
02 May 2019
Test yourself on Fibre Channel basics and the latest updates
Are you up to speed on Fibre Channel? Take our quiz to find out if you know how the storage networking technology works and the latest updates. Continue Reading
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News
30 Apr 2019
Dell EMC Unity XT expands midrange storage overlap
Even as it plans to winnow away overlapping midrange SANs, Dell EMC adds four capacity models to its Unity XT series designed to broaden support for VMware Cloud. Continue Reading