Direct-Attached Storage (DAS)
Stands for "Direct Attached Storage." DAS refers to any storage device connected directly to a computer. Examples include HDDs, SSDs, and optical drives. While DAS can refer to internal storage devices, it is most often describes external devices, such as an external hard drive.
The term "DAS" was created to differentiate between network-attached storage (NAS) and direct-attached storage. Before NAS and storage area networks (SANs) were available, direct-att...
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SAN
Storage Provisioning
Storage Provisioning
Storage provisioning is the process of assigning storage, usually in the form of server disk drive space, in order to optimize the performance of a storage area network (SAN). Traditionally, this has been done by the SAN administrator, and it can be a tedious process.Storage provisioning is done in steps, which must be followed in a specific order. The storage must be configured for optimum SAN performance. Logical unit numbers (LUNs) must be assigned within the net...
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Storage Virtualization Definition
Storage Virtualization Definition
Storage virtualization is the pooling of physical storage from multiple network storage devices into what appears to be a single storage device that is managed from a central console.
Storage virtualization helps the storage administrator perform the tasks of backup, archiving, and recovery more easily -- and in less time -- by disguising the actual complexity of a storage area network (SAN). Administrators can implement virtualization with software app...
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Storage Virtualization
Storage Virtualization
Storage virtualization is the amalgamation of multiple network storage devices into what appears to be a single storage unit. Storage virtualization is usually implemented via software applications and often used in SAN (storage area network), a high-speed subnetwork of shared storage devices, and makes tasks such as archiving, back-up, and recovery easier and faster.
A similar phrase, virtualization-aware storage, facilitates management and monitoring of storage ...
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Storage Networking
Storage Networking
Storage networking is the practice of linking together storage devices and connecting them to other IT networks. Storage networks provide a centralized repository for digital data that can be accessed by many users, and they use high-speed connections to provide fast performance. It's most common to find storage networks in enterprise settings, although some vendors do sell networked storage products for consumers and small businesses.
Storage Networking and SAN
The phr...
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Virtual SAN Definition
Virtual SAN Definition
Virtual SAN Definition: Virtual SAN is a software-defined storage offering from VMware that enables enterprises to pool their storage capabilities and to instantly and automatically provision virtual machine storage via simple policies that are driven by the virtual machine.
VMware's virtual storage area networking (SAN) solution also provides the ability to dynamically scale storage capacity and performance as needed, and exposes the underlying physical storage to...
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Storage Area Network (SAN)
Storage Area Network (SAN)
A storage-area network (SAN) is a dedicated high-speed network (or subnetwork) that interconnects and presents shared pools of storage devices to multiple servers.
A SAN moves storage resources off the common user network and reorganizes them into an independent, high-performance network. This allows each server to access shared storage as if it were a drive directly attached to the server. When a host wants to access a storage device on the SAN, it sends out a...
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Converged Network Adapter CNA
Converged Network Adapter CNA
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. It connects servers to FC-based storage area networks (SANs) and Ethernet-based local area networks (LANs).
The CNA connects to the server via a PCI Express (PCIe) interface. The server sends both FC SAN and LAN and traffic to an Ethernet port on a converged switch ...
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Thin Provisioning
Thin Provisioning
Thin provisioning (TP) is a method of optimizing the efficiency with which the available space is utilized in storage area networks (SAN). TP operates by allocating disk storage space in a flexible manner among multiple users, based on the minimum space required by each user at any given time.
In the conventional storage provisioning model, also known as fat provisioning (FP), storage space is allocated beyond current needs, in anticipation of growing need and increased...
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