Key similarities and differences file servers and nas devices each provide a great way to share files across devices on a network. A san is a network designed to attach storage hardware and software to servers. San, short for storagearea network, is a dedicated network that allows multiple users to access block level data storage. Pdf performance analysis of nas and san storage for scientific. The two storage architectures process data differently. But the typical file server offers more powerful hardware and greater functionality than a nas device. No video straming, usually we are copying it on the laptop before going on presentation. If you dig a little deeper, when a file readwrite request is send to a nas share attached to a server, the request is sent in the form of a cifscommon internet file system or nfsnetwork file system requests over the network. Nas systems store data as files and present those files in a file system. With san, multiple devices are connected by a dedicated network and data is accessed in data blocks.
Difference between storage area network and network attached storage. Networked attached storage provides connectivity to the virtual server through a tcpip connection and storage access is provided at the file level. In a san, the san block device presents a certain amount of space to the client, and then the client is responsible for managing the space. A nas device appliance, usually an integrated processor plus disk storage, is attached to a tcpipbased network lan or wan, and accessed using specialized file access file sharing protocols. The differences between nas and san can be seen when comparing their cabling and how theyre connected to the system, as well as how other devices communicate with them. It differs from traditional, directly attached storage in that, in nas, the operating system and other software on the nas product are dedicated solely to data storage. With nfs, i have to send an open to the nas in order to discover the file handle, because my desktop has no idea what is going on with the file system. Both take advantage of higherspeed networks for faster data access, let users access storage independent of servers, and enable users to centrally manage storage. The applications that can be downloaded can be restricted. Her research interests include file systems, databases, and transaction processing systems. The primary difference between the two is the medium used in transmitting the data to and fro as nas uses the network to transport the data while san.
Unlike san, nas storage controllers partition the storage and then own the file system. I want to backup all the employees80 workstations important files and these are only word and excel files. Understanding iot protocols, clients and management duration. The essential difference between san and nas is a clarification in how the network storage is being accessed. No part of this document may be reproduced in any form, electronic or mechanical, without the expressed written. Its easy to confuse the terms storage area network san and network attached storage nas. Information technology has helped us become more effective and efficient in every aspect of daytoday work. In addition, while san focuses on high performance and low latency, nas focuses on ease of use, manageability, scalability, and lower total cost of ownership tco. The nas and san approaches have gained momentum in the last. Difference between san and nas is that storage area network san is a highspeed network with the sole purpose of providing storage to other servers to which it is attached.
Nas, short for networkattached storage is a file level computer data storage connected to a computer network that provides access to clients. While network attached storage nas device is a server connected to a network with the sole purpose of providing storage. Both refer to relatively new network technologies that let you manage the disk storage on your network. Although file systems can be used to address video surveillance workloads, even modern scaleout file systems introduce. A storagearea network san is a dedicated highspeed network or subnetwork that interconnects and presents shared pools of storage devices to multiple servers. This edition applies to the products in the ibm storage area networks san portfolio. Using san and nas in the qlikview environment page 2. Whats the difference between a file server and a nas device. A san addresses data by disk block number and transfers raw disk blocks. The fibre channel of the san has a limit of around 10km at best. Today we will discuss what the difference is between a storage area network and network attached storage san vs nas. What software should i use to make it done either automatically or manually as long as its effective and not affecting our network performance. A san typically uses fibre channel connectivity, while nas typically ties into to. Difference between san and nas compare the difference.
For example, a file server and nas device both allow you to control who has access to specific files and folders. Nas that most everyone agrees on, and probably the answer the interviewer was looking for, is that a san provides block storage, whereas nas provides file storage i. A file server is a server that provides common access to files. Database server volume manager sw raid 4 2 figure3 network attach database server model the network attached storage nas model attempts to solve these issues by using generalpurpose networks and common protocols such as nfs and tcpip.
The story is not quite as straightforward as that of course. San storage area network and nas network attached storage are two types of data storage systems who function, the storage and retrieval of data, are pretty much the same. Typically a nas will also run a fileserver, with the fileserver exposing the storage to the network. Even sata, the data is formatted as scsi requests and responses. A nas server can use a closeby complicated tension or a san to save the blocks of information that incorporate the data. The user sees some space and uses it doesnt usually make too much difference. The reality is that they are completely different products that serve different purposes, and often coexist together in the same environment. This is often contrasted with san storage area network, which provides only blockbased storage and leaves file system concerns on the client side. This paper provides an easytounderstand comparison of the storage. San is typically used in data centers, enterprises or virtual computing environments. Todays data center and cloud environments have converged infrastructures and management tools, and with the use of virtualization technologies like vmware and microsoft hyperv, external san and nas storage is becoming standard. Before we really delve into the difference, it is worth discussing the nature of data, how it has changed and why choosing the right one is an important decision.
A nas device is nothing more than an inexpensive selfcontained file server. For simplicity, a nas is a kind of fileserver, but not all fileservers are a nas. Nas or windows file server on san data storage spiceworks. This page compares dasdirect access storage vs nasnetwork attached storage vs san storage area network and mentions difference between dasdirect access storage,nasnetwork attached storage and san storage area network. A storage area network san is a network designed to attach computer storage devices such as disk array controllers and tape libraries to servers. Many businesses get a central file server nas setup fairly quickly, so they can collaborate on files more easily across multiple computers. In your computer, your storage controller talks scsi to the backing disk. San protocols include fibre channel, iscsi, ata over ethernet aoe and hyperscsi one way to loosely conceptualize the difference between a nas and a san is that nas appears to. At its simplest, the difference between a nas storage abstraction and a san storage abstraction is that nas systems offer file system functionality to their clients and san systems do not. These environments often extend to thousands of virtual machines running a broad range of operating systems and applications, with different performance.
Nas processes file based data and san processes block data. The coupon code you entered is expired or invalid, but the course is still available. In nas, the nas file oriented device manages the space, creation of files, directories, etc. Solved san or nas or storage server for backup spiceworks. A nas is a single storage device that operates on data files, while a san is a local network of several devices. Im starting to miss space on my san, and i would prefer buy a nas than a new san if the difference of performance wont change. Nas is also a networkbased storage system, but unlike a san, nas uses dedicated file storage. A helpful guide when it comes to networkbased storage, networkattached storage nas and storagearea networks san are two popular choices that complement each other. Figure shows a manual copy of data for redundancy. A nas device is a selfcontained file server thats preconfigured and ready to run.
Nfs tutorial in linux a nas is nothing but a deviceequipmetserver attached to tcpip network, that shares its own storage with others. Employees access files from the nas like they do any other file on the network. The key difference between san and nas is that san is a block level data storage while nas is file level data storage todays technology has advanced so much that it has made our lives a lot easier and comfortable to live in. Ive heard about san nas but i dont think i can do it since we have limited resources. Differences in appearance the first thing to look at when debating if you are using a san or a nas is how the operating system sees the storage. Nas devices are typically managed like a browser, and they dont have a keyboard or display. The differences between nas and san can be seen when comparing their cabling and how theyre connected to the system, as. Download our free whitepapers, ebooks and other assets.
Nas and san interfaces technologically, nas and san systems offer different abstractions to the software using them 1, 2. The protocol of nas is nfs while san uses encapsulated scsi. What is the difference between network attached storage. One way to loosely conceptualize the difference between a nas and a san is that nas appears to the client os operating system as a file server the client can map network drives to shares on that server whereas a disk available through a san. What is the difference between san and nas san vs nas. A nas identifies data by file name and byte offsets, transfers file data or file metadata files owner, permissions, creation data, etc. A nas device is a server that runs an operating system specifically designed for handling files rather than block data. Nas enables users and client devices to get data from a centralized disk. Nas may operate with a global namespace, and sans have access to a specialized san file system. Network attached storage a simple and relatively inexpensive way to add more storage to your network is to use network attached storage, also known as nas. Introduction to storage area networks ibm redbooks. But a typical difference between san and nas is that, a nas is a single storage device which operates on data files, whereas san is a local network of multiple devices which operate on disk blocks. Please explain the difference in san and nas yahoo. San and networkattached storage nas are both networkbased storage solutions.
This is, i would argue, the most important distinction between san and nas and hopefully ive demonstrated it well enough to be understandable. Storage systems play a crucial part in any organizations computers. Nas its origin, present adoption and future incarnations 6. A nas identifies data by file name and byte offsets, transfers file data or file metadata file s owner, permissions, creation data, etc. However, nas is a much simpler and less expensive technology. However, nas is ethernetbased, while san can use ethernet and fibre channel. A storage area network is a dedicated, highperformance storage system that transfers blocklevel data between servers and storage devices.
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