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Follow UsNAS
vs SAN
NAS is an innovative category of data storage that has evolved from
proven thin server technologies. Another category, storage area
networks (SAN), is often confused with NAS.
NAS features include:
- Storage on
the network for work group and departmental desktop users.
- General-purpose
server independent. Server functionality is embedded in the NAS
device.
- LAN connected
using ethernet or token ring.
- Distributed
storage.
- Independent
of any operating system or proprietary protocol.
SAN features
include:
- Storage for
enterprise computing systems.
- System dependent.
- Fibre-channel
connected.
- Centralized,
clustered storage.
In short, NAS
and SAN are complementary technologies that should coexist so as
to optimize a company's network storage infrastructure.
The
future of NAS thin servers
NAS thin servers are a rapidly evolving technology. The number of
NAS thin server applications is growing at a phenomenal rate.
Today there
are thin servers to support CD-ROM servers, printers and more. In
the future they will support other functions, such as data storage
and retrieval, that can offload network traffic and data access
from more expensive general-purpose servers.
In the future,
NAS thin servers will become the preferred method of providing certain
features like data storage and information access. This is because
they provide a simple, reliable and cost-effective way to add shared
storage to your network.
A
viable concept
Network attached storage is a promising and viable concept in networking
environments today because it allows for easy expansion of information
access. It complements existing general-purpose servers. Thin servers
are a key component of this technology because they:
- are easy
to install and manage.
- provide easy
access to information over the network.
- are cost-effective.
- are general-purpose
server independent, and thus more reliable.
- provide improved
performance.
Courtesy:
Hewlett-Packard