Demands placed on a network
When the roll out of broadband internet connections began, it was heralded as the solution to many of the problems that all internet users experienced; pages that were slow to load, long download times, poor latency for webcams and online games to name but a few. The prospect of being able to share large files and view streaming video was also being touted as an advantage of a faster connection. However, as is inevitably the case, as connection speeds increased so did user’s expectations. Not only did streaming video and file sharing become the norm, but businesses and companies came to expect the highest standards and performance from their networks in order to increase efficiency and maintain an edge over their rivals.
Videos, images, instant messaging and access to databases are vital to a competitive business as any system crashes, lost or corrupted files, downtime or inefficient procedures can hamper the chances of success. If a business has no coherent process for data storage, it can only spell trouble further down the line as it grows. This is where a storage area network can be a crucial investment.
What is a storage area network?
A managed SAN, or storage area network, is a device which links together storage devices such as servers or tape drives, and allows users to connect to them. A managed SAN will make the storage device appear as if it connected locally to a user’s computer, meaning that accessing data or backing up files is a simple process. When first installing a SAN, migration of your existing backed up data is a priority. You are not limited to transferring your files in batches, as SAN migration is flexible enough to allow restoration of a single file if necessary.
There are two types of managed SAN. The first is a network which will transfer data between computers and storage devices. It provides physical connections to your storage device, and you are able to govern what files are able to be transferred and who has access to them via management software.
The second type of managed SAN is comprised of data storage devices, computer systems, management software and other storage elements, all communicating with each other via an Ethernet network to facilitate swift SAN migration of data.
What can a storage area network do for you?