How to Choose enterprise-level data storage (DAS), NAS and SAN, and enterprise-level dasnassan

How to Choose enterprise-level data storage (DAS), NAS and SAN, and enterprise-level dasnassan

For an enterprise, the security of network data is extremely important. Once important data is damaged or lost, it will have a significant impact on the enterprise, or even irreparable loss. Enterprise Data Storage usually includes three methods: NAS, NAS, and SAN. This article describes the three data storage methods and how to select an appropriate data storage method based on the actual situation of the enterprise.

What are DAS, NAS, and SAN?

Direct Attached Storage (Direct external Storage) is a Storage method. The server structure of this storage solution is like a PC architecture. External data storage devices (such as disk arrays, optical disks, and tape drives) are directly attached to the internal bus of the server, the data storage device is part of the entire server structure, and the server is also responsible for the data storage of the entire network. The direct connection mode of DAS can meet the storage space expansion and high-performance transmission requirements of a single server, and the capacity of a single external storage system has grown from 1 TB to 2 TB, with the launch of large-capacity hard disks, the capacity of a single external storage system will rise. In addition, the DAS can also form a dual-host high-availability system based on disk arrays to meet the high-availability requirements of data storage.

NAS (Network Attached Storage, Network Attached Storage) comprehensively improves the previously inefficient Storage of DAS, which is independent of PC servers, A file server independently developed for network data storage. NAS servers are integrated with all network data storage devices (such as various disk arrays, tapes, and optical disks), and the storage capacity can be well expanded, at the same time, because this network storage method is independently undertaken by the NAS server, there is basically no impact on the performance of the original network server to ensure that the overall network performance is not affected. It provides a simple, cost-effective, highly available, highly scalable, and low total cost of ownership network storage solution.

The Storage Area Network (SAN) does not install all Storage devices in a dedicated NAS server. Instead, it connects these Storage devices separately through an optical fiber switch, A network of Fiber Channel is formed, and then the network is connected with the existing LAN of the enterprise. In this solution, the core function of the network is the fiber switch, its Supporting Technology is the fiber channel protocol, which is a standard integration established by ANSI for network and channel I/O interfaces. It supports HIPPI, IPI, SCSI, IP, ATM and other advanced protocols. In SAN, data is stored in a centralized manner, which enhances data manageability and is suitable for sharing data in the same storage pool under multiple operating systems, reducing the total cost of ownership.

What are the differences between DAS, NAS, and SAN?

Direct Connection storage of DAS relies on the operating system of the server host to perform data I/O read/write and storage maintenance management. data backup and recovery require the occupation of server host resources (including CPU and system I/O ), data streams need to be streamed back to the host and then to the tape drive (database) connected to the server. Data Backup usually occupies 20-30% of the server host resources, therefore, the daily data backup of many enterprise users is often performed late at night or when the business system is not busy, so as not to affect the normal operation of the business system. The larger the data volume of direct-connection storage, the longer the backup and recovery time, and the greater the dependency and impact on server hardware. This solution was mainly used on early computers and servers. At that time, due to the small demand for data storage, the storage capability required by a single server can meet the daily data storage requirements, therefore, it is widely used in low-end network applications.
As an additional network storage device, NAS provides built-in and optimized independent storage operating systems, which can effectively and closely release system bus resources and fully support I/O storage, at the same time, NAS devices are generally integrated with local backup software, so that important data in NAS devices can be backed up locally without going through the server, moreover, NAS devices provide hard disk RAID, redundant power supplies, fans, and redundant controllers to ensure stable NAS applications.

NAS devices are mainly used for file sharing applications on different operating system platforms. Compared with traditional servers or DAS storage devices, NAS devices are easy to install, debug, use, and manage, using NAS can save a certain amount of device management and maintenance costs. The NAS device provides the RJ-45 interface and a separate IP address, which can be directly attached to a vswitch of the backbone network or a Hub of another LAN, through simple settings (such as setting the IP address of the machine, etc) NAS devices can be used for network plug-and-play, and no pause is required for Online Network Data resizing to ensure smooth data storage.

The NAS data storage solution is designed based on the LAN and communicates with each other based on the traditional TCP/IP protocol. It is oriented to message transmission and transmits data in file I/O mode. In a LAN environment, NAS supports data-level sharing between heterogeneous platforms, such as Windows NT, Linux, and UNIX. For this reason, the cost of using and maintaining the NAS solution for enterprises is quite low, and can be fully undertaken by existing network administrators.

A san connects storage devices and servers through a separate, usually fiber-channel-based SAN network, so that when there is a need to access massive data, data can be transmitted between related server and backend storage devices through the SAN network at a high speed. The bandwidth usage for the LAN is almost zero, and the server can access any storage device on the SAN, improves data availability. In scenarios with high performance and reliability requirements, advanced SAN data storage networks can make data storage, backup, and other activities independent from the original LAN, this will reduce the LAN load and ensure the smooth operation of original network applications. At the same time, the SAN network uses fiber-optic transmission channels to achieve high-speed data transmission rates.

The SAN solution simplifies management and centralized control, which is of great practical significance for all storage devices to be centralized in the information center. SAN separates the storage and server platforms of enterprises to achieve 24x7 uninterrupted system availability and centralized management. Based on this platform, it can also apply a unified disaster recovery solution and economically and efficiently expand the storage environment. Therefore, SAN is suitable for non-linear editing, Server Clusters, remote disaster recovery, and Internet data services.

How can enterprises choose data storage solutions based on their actual needs?

The architecture of enterprise storage applications mainly includes three modes: DAS, NAS, and SAN. The three modes differ significantly from the logic of the architecture. An enterprise storage has the following requirements: performance, security, scalability, ease of use, overall cost of ownership, and service. Because it is not a one-stop process to build a storage system for enterprise users, it will go through the process from a single machine to networked storage, therefore, there are three storage solutions: DAS, NAS, and SAN for enterprise users to make different choices.

1. Select the DAS Solution

Direct Connection storage of DAS relies on the operating system of the server host to perform data I/O read/write and storage maintenance management. data backup and recovery require the occupation of server host resources (including CPU and system I/O ), data streams need to be streamed back to the host and then to the tape drive (database) connected to the server. Data Backup usually occupies 20-30% of the server host resources, therefore, the daily data backup of many enterprise users is often performed late at night or when the business system is not busy, so as not to affect the normal operation of the business system. The larger the data volume of direct-connection storage, the longer the backup and recovery time, and the greater the dependency and impact on server hardware. This solution was mainly used on early computers and servers. At that time, due to the small demand for data storage, the storage capability required by a single server can meet the daily data storage requirements, therefore, it is widely used in low-end network applications.

2. Select the NAS Solution

As an additional network storage device, NAS provides built-in and optimized independent storage operating systems, which can effectively and closely release system bus resources and fully support I/O storage, at the same time, NAS devices are generally integrated with local backup software, so that important data in NAS devices can be backed up locally without going through the server, moreover, NAS devices provide hard disk RAID, redundant power supplies, fans, and redundant controllers to ensure stable NAS applications.

NAS devices are mainly used for file sharing applications on different operating system platforms. Compared with traditional servers or DAS storage devices, NAS devices are easy to install, debug, use, and manage, using NAS can save a certain amount of device management and maintenance costs. The NAS device provides the RJ-45 interface and a separate IP address, which can be directly attached to a vswitch of the backbone network or a Hub of another LAN, through simple settings (such as setting the IP address of the machine, etc) NAS devices can be used for network plug-and-play, and no pause is required for Online Network Data resizing to ensure smooth data storage.

The NAS data storage solution is designed based on the LAN and communicates with each other based on the traditional TCP/IP protocol. It is oriented to message transmission and transmits data in file I/O mode. In a LAN environment, NAS supports data-level sharing between heterogeneous platforms, such as Windows NT, Linux, and UNIX. For this reason, the cost of using and maintaining the NAS solution for enterprises is quite low, and can be fully undertaken by existing network administrators.

3. Select the SAN Solution

Because SAN connects storage devices and servers through a separate, normally fiber-channel-based SAN network, when there is a need to access massive data, data can be transmitted between related server and backend storage devices through the SAN network at a high speed. The bandwidth usage for the LAN is almost zero, and the server can access any storage device on the SAN, improves data availability. In scenarios with high performance and reliability requirements, advanced SAN data storage networks can make data storage, backup, and other activities independent from the original LAN, this will reduce the LAN load and ensure the smooth operation of original network applications. At the same time, the SAN network uses fiber-optic transmission channels to achieve high-speed data transmission rates.

The SAN solution simplifies management and centralized control, which is of great practical significance for all storage devices to be centralized in the information center. SAN separates the storage and server platforms of enterprises to achieve 24x7 uninterrupted system availability and centralized management. Based on this platform, it can also apply a unified disaster recovery solution and economically and efficiently expand the storage environment. Therefore, SAN is suitable for non-linear editing, Server Clusters, remote disaster recovery, and Internet data services.

Development Trend of enterprise data storage

The biggest drawback of direct connection storage is that the storage resources of each part are isolated from each other, which easily forms an isolated island. NAS features unattended, highly functional, stable performance, and specific functions. However, NAS cannot meet the requirements of data storage systems with a reliability of 99.999%. The biggest advantage of SAN is that it can integrate the storage devices of different vendors in heterogeneous environments to share resources. Therefore, SAN will become the mainstream of enterprise storage applications.

On the one hand, in order to ensure smooth data flow across different hardware platforms and operating systems, the openness of the Storage Architecture, compatibility of the storage hardware, and adaptability of the storage software come together, this is manifested in storage convergence. SAN and NAS convergence is the trend of the times. On the other hand, virtual storage separates the storage seen by the host operating system from the actual physical storage. virtual storage technology can improve the utilization of storage devices, by dynamically managing disk space, the virtual storage technology can avoid invalid disk space occupation. At present, virtual technology has attracted the attention of almost all storage system manufacturers. Devices adopting virtual storage technology will become the new mainstream in the market.

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