Storage Area Network

Abstract

The document provides an explanation about Storage Area Network (SAN) Based Distributed System Architecture. The article outlines of application of Storage Area Network (SAN) client-server models. The paper gives the significance of Storage Area Network (SAN) within organization and applications that implement management of data and information. The paper discusses the critical analysis in implementation and application of Storage Area Network (SAN). It sites technological advancements that make Storage Area Network (SAN) applications obsolete. Finally, the document explains security concerns associated with the implementation of Storage Area Network (SAN) in providing data and information confidentiality, integrity, and accessibility.

Introduction

The storage systems are getting improved by new technology through the acquisition of improved repository systems in technology. Big data concept requires complex and sophisticated systems to store data and information. Networked devices transfer huge data and information across network making a need for complex system storage to manage and control big data within the network. Big data operations in business operations require adequate storage system to accommodate data and information collected through data mining. The current operations are moving from analog to real-time data and storage systems. The network is filled with streaming of real-time data and information such as video, games, music, images, and database. Such storage activities increase need of better storage facility technology such as SAN. Storage repository locations are bound to change with rampant changes in technology.   

Storage Area Network (SAN)

SAN is ma mass storage network dedicated to providing repository center on the network. SAN provides access to complex block level data and information storage location. Initially, SAN technology was applied in the manufacturing of portable storage mediums such as Flash disks, disk arrays, tape libraries, as well as optical jukebox accessible to servers. SAN is a storage location that modifies a raw storage of data into a pool of resources that can be centrally managed allowing allocation of space to several other data and information when the time needed. SAN is highly scalable since the expansion of space for allocation of storage space involves simple operations (Jon, et al., 2016).

In a business organization, SAN is preferred due to support it offers universal storage connectivity. Organization currently connects their computers along with storage devices. SAN can connect many computers devices to multiple arrays of mass storage devices. The connection allows computers to manipulate available storage locations to provide better sharing of repository storage location between computers. Ownership of storage locations is shifted among the devices making information stored within a business is spread at several locations. Users can access data and information stored in any device without requiring copying data and information manually to another device. SAN storage applications promote SAN based distributed system that allows real-time sharing of data and information as well as real-time data access to other computers requiring to, access data stored on different computers.

Figure 1: SAN Based Distributed System Architecture

Source: (searchstorage.techtarget.com).

SAN distributed system architecture of client-server model eliminates the concept of single dedicated data storage and ownership. SAN architecture allows storage of devices to be connected to all servers. Servers within an organization can easily trace and access data stored in other storage devices making all possible allocations of specific data available in a particular storage device instead of copying entire data (Richard, & Paul, 2002).  Through SAN based distributed systems universal storage can be achieved which helps information service department to have potential of enjoying the following business oriented advantages

1.    The organization data and information managers do not require configuring and setting schedules for transferring and copying data from one storage location to another. SAN-based distributed architecture allow sharing of information between pairs of servers (Richard, & Paul, 2002).

2.      Organization using SAN Based Distributed System Architecture does not require purchasing extra components for storing data and information while managing real-time data and information. Extra temporary storage is not required within SAN Based Distributed System Architecture. Servers update information stored and most updated information can be accessed to immediately by another u=ser without requiring staging devices (Richard, & Paul, 2002).

3.    Synchronization of data and information in SAN Based Distributed System Architecture is guaranteed. Copies of data and information accessed by two computers have a high level of synchronization ensuring that data accessed simultaneously has same contents irrespective of time and location. SAN Based Distributed System Architecture allows computers working on a same copy of data receive updated information simultaneously. Organizations responsible for handling electronic information such as communication companies find SAN Based Distributed System Architecture best managing data and information accessed by various clients (Richard, & Paul, 2002).

SAN architecture has widely been used to facilitate managing and controlling of input and output data and information.  However, SAN Based Distributed System Architecture requires modification of input and output system bus to be in a position to implement required formulation of output and input data and information.  SAN Based Distributed System Architecture has the highest availability making it possible for the organization to deal with data and information for output and input purposes.  Data and information entered into the network by the organization are entered at one end and allowed to be available to other systems in distributed nature. Output and input data is protected within the organization through implementation of highly tolerable systems that guarantee (Meeta, 2002). Organizations implement SAN Based Distributed System Architecture where the network has links and switches installed with SAN architecture to encounter problems associated with failure of the network as well as network power disruptions. The component installed with SAN architecture have the capability of surviving failures and deliver output or input information within require end at the most appropriate time. Organizations implementing network devices having configurations and settings that support SAN architecture enhances safe delivery of information. When a failure occurs during data and information transfer systems can still acquire failure recovery strategies and deliver Data and information to a destination with high-level reliability.

SAN Based Distributed System Architecture allows increased growth and development of individuals within the network. All individuals operate within allocated network are well served by the available resources of SAN architecture. SAN Based Distributed System Architecture allows growth and development of traffic as well as network users through implementation of additional ports and additional input and connection output sections. SAN architecture scales the number of interconnected devices easily mounting new computers and storage devices along the bus connecting other devices. Input and output performance is not degraded by an increase in some added clients. SAN Based Distributed System Architecture has the capability of enabling entire system to adopt delivering high data transfer rates with low input and output request latency. SAN Based Distributed System Architecture implements a gradual growth in performance as the organization clients and processing requirements increase (Meeta, 2002). When the maximum growth of SAN becomes, limited organizations can easily replace upgrade SAN architecture to provide more powerful and high responsive architecture.

SAN Based Distributed System Architecture, which has limited scaling property provides extra application performance that enables separation of high volume input and output traffic from client-server message trafficking. SAN Based Distributed System Architecture has the capability of providing high power path that enables working of optimum allocation of time output applications requiring more advanced time and resources. Priority measures are applied ensuring consistency operation and delivery of information. Real-time data and information as well as video, and the electronic conference is allocated more processing time as well as more speed and space to ensure equal throughput is maintained across the network. Organizations acquire high level and quality output maintained by SAN Based Distributed System Architecture.

Organization and investors prefer working and implementing SAN Based Distributed System Architecture since it guarantees considerable cost with better quality services. Returns guaranteed by implementing SAN Based Distributed System Architecture are high since operations with providing relatively equal time of capital and cost returns. The value of implementing SAN Based Distributed System Architecture is high, however upon installation and deployment SAN Based Distributed System Architecture provides best operational cost. Maintenance cost is the minimal as well as operating cost (Margaret R, 2013). Time and energy required to manage and implement SAN technology activities designing organization functions and environmental architecture, deploying the drawn architecture to the current requirement of the system, tuning developed SAN Based Distributed System Architecture to cater for defined operations within the organization and finally maintaining SAN Based Distributed System Architecture (Meeta, 2002). Organization having interests in implementing SAN Based Distributed System Architecture require to perform cost analysis as well as a feasibility study to determine the viability of proposed system within the organization. Compared with other client server architectures, SAN Based Distributed System Architecture promise that more payback returns can be obtained from SAN Based Distributed System Architecture.  Enterprises having SAN Based Distributed System Architecture enable their computers to run at most critical applications.

Critical Analysis of SAN Based Distributed System Architecture

SAN Based Distributed System Architecture has several earlier standards and devices applied to the network today. Some of the outdated system and storage devices are still applicable in the organization like the implementation of Disk and tape drives, RAID subsystems and other technologies are being implemented in SAN Based Distributed System Architecture. Such devices are likely to become obsolete in future due to the introduction of newer and advanced devices. Currently, technology has eliminated some of the storage mediums supported by SAN Based Distributed System Architecture like the implementation of tape drivers.  Many SAN Based Distributed System Architecture devices are gradually missing in the market. Maintenance and repairing of SAN Based Distributed System Architecture is becoming difficult and none achievable due to compatibility problems. Most devices found in the markets are do not support SAN Based Distributed System Architecture making it difficult to deal with entire system when problems arise (Jon, et al., 2016). The cost of SAN Based Distributed System Architecture makes it feel discouraging to organizations since most of the systems are discarded n favor of most recent systems and improved network management.   However, some of the applied devices in SAN Based Distributed System Architecture network systems are still powerful and rendering better operations within the market. Persisted devices have the potential of reviving the glory of SAN Based Distributed System Architecture if research towards improving such systems can be implemented.

Security issues in SAN

 SAN Based Distributed System Architecture provides three levels of security. The first level applied in implementing security is that servers are kept unaware that data stored on servers is not local. Data is therefore stored in allocated SAN storage subsystems. The administrator creates the first level by setting a series of disk arrays with logical volumes identified by a logical unit number (LUN). SAN Based Distributed System Architecture can apply the levels automatically (Stewart, 2003). LUN volumes are then allocated a specific port that corresponds to a specific computer. Storage controller ports are assigned a specific channel that connects to a dedicated client computer. Through storage controller ports identified by LUN, computers can access data and information directly to the system.

The second security level involves the implementation of fabric that segment network into a series of groups of switch ports or with the implementation of worldwide names (WWNs). Zones apply advanced second levels in organizing data and information which is meant to be sent for backup storage. Second level security controls data and information that may get overlapped during library sharing and back up the process. Second level data and information security backup are most appropriate in facilitating tape backup procedures in a third party location (Stewart, 2003).

            Third level security backup involves the implementation of LUN masking where system administrator performs system configuration ensuring that host computer is applied settings that make it ignore all other ports and only accept the ports that are allocated to that particular computer. The third layer has limited application due to the easier configuration of LUN mapping as well as the easy implementation of switch zoning (Stewart, 2003). The levels of security are significance in securing SAN Based Distributed System Architecture. The system allows more paths to existing within the network through the provision of to secure data and information from interceptions and crossing to wrong output or input locations when dealing with multiple input paths (Stewart, 2003). The enterprises that implement the current SAN Based Distributed System Architecture are applying the use of alternate paths to eliminate cases of redundancy and implementation of advanced data protection. More advanced security standards are applied on SAN Based Distributed System Architecture like the implementation of SONET and DSL when data and information are being mirrored from databases or replications applied after updating the system. 

Conclusion

SAN Based Distributed System Architecture provides high-level storage virtualization making server capacity to adapt to high-level storage devices that ensure storage pools are available. SAN Based Distributed System Architecture has the provision of high-speed disk technologies that enhance high data and information retrieval speeds. SAN Based Distributed System Architecture supports centralized data backup strategies that enhance multiple simplified data and multiple disk server connections. SAN Based Distributed System Architecture provides dynamic failover protection that enhances the provision of continuous network operations.   Offline operation can be continued to enhance secure redundancy. 

References

Jon T., Pall B., Hector H. I., Shanmuganathan K., & Libor M. (2016) Introduction to Storage Area Networks. USA: IBM Redbooks

Margaret R. (2013). Storage Area Network (SAN). Source: (searchstorage.techtarget.com). retrieved from http://searchstorage.techtarget.com/definition/storage-area-network-SAN

Meeta G. (2002) Storage Area Network Fundamentals: USA. Cisco press

Richard B., & Paul M. (2002) Storage Area Network Essentials: A Complete Guide to Understanding and implementing SANs. USA: Willey

Stewart B. (2003). Issues for SAN security

Sherry Roberts is the author of this paper. A senior editor at Melda Research in nursing writing services if you need a similar paper you can place your order for Customized Research Papers.