Storage Area Network - Overview

	Fibre channel and SCSI connectivity
	Redundant data paths and true five-nines
	Proprietary and open SAN architectures

SAN architectures range from those that are “proprietary” to those that are “open.”

Proprietary SAN architectures are sourced from a single manufacturer who serves as the single point of contact for SAN hardware, software, and services. These architectures are usually limited in flexibility for two reasons:

	Hardware manufacturers traditionally specialize in one area such as enterprise storage subsystems, and could have limited experience in areas such as tape, software configuration, and overall storage management.
	A limited suite of technologies is at their disposal, inhibiting their ability to tailor their architecture to the business needs of the organization. However, these single-source solutions can be effective for organizations that have limited staff expertise, and can adapt their business needs to the vendor’s specialized architecture.
	Conversely, open-SAN architectures typically consist of hardware and software from more than one manufacturer. More flexible in nature, this approach leverages best-of-breed technologies and services to meet specific business needs. The storage architect’s integration experience with multi-vendor technologies is critical to ensure interoperability, optimal performance, and functionality.

Environments that are suitable for a SAN are those that require highly sustained throughput and high availability, with continuously growing data.