Primary storage devices
Primary storage devices refer to storage hardware for data in active use, in contrast to storage used for backup purposes. They include SAN and NAS primary storage devices, non-volatile flash storage and other types of storage media. Find resources about primary storage and storage hardware, including RAID arrays and storage arrays, on this topic page.
New & Notable
Download Now: Flash Memory vs. RAM: What’s the Difference?
In this guide, explore the differences between flash memory and RAM. Plus, discover how quad-level cell (QLC) and triple-level cell (TLC) NAND flash memory are coexisting in the data center.
Primary storage devices News
-
September 24, 2020
24
Sep'20
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.
-
September 02, 2020
02
Sep'20
Bloomberg storage engineering team leans on open source, SDS
The Bloomberg Storage Engineering team built an internal storage cloud that has withstood great trading volatility during the pandemic and keeps 'infrastructure out of the way.'
-
August 28, 2020
28
Aug'20
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 expected to ramp sales in 2022.
-
August 27, 2020
27
Aug'20
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.
Primary storage devices Get Started
Bring yourself up to speed with our introductory content
-
FCoE (Fibre Channel over Ethernet)
FCoE (Fibre Channel over Ethernet) is a storage protocol that enable Fibre Channel (FC) communications to run directly over Ethernet. Continue Reading
-
Fibre Channel switch (FC switch)
A Fibre Channel switch is a networking device that is compatible with the Fibre Channel (FC) protocol and designed for use in a dedicated storage area network (SAN). Continue Reading
-
SAN switch (storage area network switch)
A storage area network (SAN) switch is a device that connects servers and shared pools of storage devices and is dedicated to moving storage traffic. Continue Reading
Evaluate Primary storage devices Vendors & Products
Weigh the pros and cons of technologies, products and projects you are considering.
-
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
-
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
-
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
Manage Primary storage devices
Learn to apply best practices and optimize your operations.
-
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
-
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
-
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
Problem Solve Primary storage devices Issues
We’ve gathered up expert advice and tips from professionals like you so that the answers you need are always available.
-
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
-
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
-
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