Data Robotics DroboElite Storage Area Network SAN 8-Bay W/ iSCSI

A Storage Area Network (SAN) is an architecture to attach remote computer storage devices (such as disk arrays, tape libraries, and optical jukeboxes) to Servers in such a way that the devices appear as locally attached to the operating system. A Storage Area Network SAN typically is its own network of storage devices that is generally not accessible through the regular network by regular devices.

Sharing storage usually simplifies storage administration and adds flexibility since cables and storage devices do not have to be physically moved to shift storage from one server to another. Other benefits include the ability to allow servers to boot from the Storage Area Network SAN itself. This allows for a quick and easy replacement of faulty servers since the SAN can be reconfigured so that a replacement server can use the LUN of the faulty server. This process can take as little as half an hour and is a relatively new idea being pioneered in newer data centers.

SAN and NAS
In contrast to Storage Area Network SAN, network attached storage (NAS) uses file-based protocols such as NFS or SMB/CIFS where it is clear that the storage is remote, and computers request a portion of an abstract file rather than a disk block.