Määritelmä
A SAN is a separate storage network that presents disk space to servers at block level, as if the disk were plugged in directly. It gives raw space rather than files; virtualisation platforms and databases use it with their own file systems. Several servers attach to the same storage, so when one server fails its virtual machines start on another. It needs its own cabling (fibre or high-speed Ethernet) and dual paths. It is the foundation of virtualisation clusters in mid-size and large companies; in small offices it is usually unnecessary.
Miten SMB Teknoloji käyttää sitä
For virtualisation clusters with two or more hosts we build a SAN or equivalent shared storage; dual paths, monitoring and a disaster-recovery scenario are part of the installation.