Enterprise Data Storage

Enterprise data storage in cloud computing is a way for businesses to store their data on remote servers hosted by cloud providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud. Instead of keeping data on local computers or physical storage devices (like hard drives) at the office, the data is stored in a data center provided by these companies.

1. Remote Storage: Businesses use the internet to store and access their data in the cloud, which is a collection of remote servers located in large data centers.
2. Scalability: The cloud lets companies store as much data as they need, without worrying about running out of space. They can increase or decrease storage as needed.
3. Cost-Effective: Businesses pay only for the storage they use, saving on the cost of buying and maintaining physical hardware.
4. Accessibility: Data stored in the cloud can be accessed from anywhere, at any time, by authorized users with an internet connection.
5. Security: Cloud providers offer strong security features like encryption and data backups to protect the data.
6. Backup and Recovery: The cloud ensures that data is backed up automatically and can be recovered in case of accidental deletion or system failure.

Types of  Enterprise  Data Storage.

1.      Direct attached Storage(DAS)

 Direct-Attached Storage (DAS) is a type of storage system where storage devices, such as hard drives or solid-state drives (SSDs), are directly connected to a computer or server, without the use of a network. In this setup, the storage is physically attached to the device via interfaces like SATA, SAS, or USB.

 

 Features of Direct-Attached Storage (DAS):

1. Direct Connection: The storage is directly connected to a server or computer via a physical interface, meaning the data can only be accessed by that machine unless shared over the network.
2. Performance: DAS often provides faster data access compared to network storage systems like NAS (Network-Attached Storage) because there’s no network latency.
3. Limited Scalability: DAS is limited by the number of ports available on the computer or server to connect additional storage devices. For expanding storage capacity, additional storage units or a complete server upgrade may be required.
4. Single Access Point: Only the device to which the storage is attached can directly access the data unless shared with other devices over a network.
5. Low Cost: DAS is typically more affordable and easier to set up compared to more complex storage solutions like SAN (Storage Area Network) or NAS.
6. Use Cases: DAS is often used for individual servers, small businesses, or personal devices where dedicated, high-speed storage is needed but doesn’t require shared access across a network.

Types of Direct-Attached Storage:

• Internal DAS: Storage devices (like hard drives or SSDs) are installed inside the server or computer.
• External DAS: Storage devices are housed in a separate enclosure and connected externally to the server via cables, such as USB, eSATA, or Thunderbolt.

 Uses:

• Small Businesses: DAS can be used by small businesses that need affordable, high-speed storage for local servers.
• Dedicated Servers: DAS is ideal for dedicated storage in applications that don’t require shared access, such as video editing workstations or database servers with locally stored data.

Network  attached  Storage (NAS)

Network-Attached Storage (NAS) is a type of storage system that connects to a network and provides data access to multiple devices over that network. It acts as a dedicated file storage device that can be accessed by users, applications, and devices connected to the network, making it an ideal solution for file sharing and centralized storage in homes or businesses. 

·  Network Connectivity: NAS devices are connected to a network, allowing multiple users and devices to access and share the stored data simultaneously over the network.

·  File-Level Access: NAS works at the file level, meaning it stores and manages data as files, similar to how data is organized on a computer or server. Users can access files using standard network protocols like NFS (Network File System), SMB/CIFS (Server Message Block), or AFP (Apple Filing Protocol).

·  Dedicated Storage: NAS is a dedicated device that serves as a centralized storage solution for the entire network. It is often used to store and share files, perform backups, and host media like photos, videos, and documents.

·  Scalability: NAS can be scaled by adding more storage drives to the device or adding additional NAS devices to the network, making it flexible for growing storage needs.

·  Accessibility: NAS provides access to stored data across multiple devices, such as computers, laptops, smartphones, and tablets, over a local area network (LAN) or even the internet, if configured with remote access capabilities.

·  Data Redundancy and Protection: Many NAS devices offer features like RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks), which protects data by storing it across multiple disks. If one disk fails, the data can still be recovered from the others, offering built-in redundancy and fault tolerance.

Uses of NAS:

1. File Sharing and Collaboration: NAS is commonly used in offices, schools, and homes for file sharing and collaboration, allowing multiple users to access shared files.
2. Backup Solution: NAS can be used to back up important data from multiple devices, ensuring data is safe and easily recoverable.
3. Media Streaming: Many NAS devices are used as media servers to store and stream music, movies, and other multimedia content to multiple devices, such as smart TVs, computers, and mobile devices.
4. Small Business Storage: NAS is an affordable and efficient solution for small to medium-sized businesses that need centralized storage for documents, applications, and business data.

2.      Storage Area Network (SAN)

A Storage Area Network (SAN) is a specialized high-speed network that provides block-level data storage to multiple servers. Unlike Network-Attached Storage (NAS), which provides file-level access, SAN allows servers to access shared storage devices as if they were directly attached, enabling faster and more flexible storage management, especially for enterprise-level applications requiring high performance, reliability, and scalability.

Features of Storage Area Network (SAN):

1. Block-Level Access: SAN provides block-level access to data, meaning it allows servers to read and write blocks of data on storage devices. This makes SAN ideal for high-performance applications like databases, virtual machines, and transaction-heavy environments.
2. Dedicated Network: SAN is separate from the main local area network (LAN), reducing traffic and congestion on the regular network. It uses its own dedicated infrastructure (often Fibre Channel or iSCSI) to connect servers to storage.
3. High Performance: SAN is designed for high-speed data transfers, providing fast access to storage, making it suitable for applications that require low latency and high throughput.
4. Centralized Storage: SAN consolidates storage devices into a single system, allowing multiple servers to access the same pool of storage. This makes it easier to manage large amounts of data, improve resource utilization, and provide centralized data management.
5. Scalability: SAN solutions are highly scalable, meaning additional storage capacity can be added without interrupting operations. Enterprises can expand their SAN to accommodate growing data needs as the business scales.
6. Reliability and Redundancy: SANs often have built-in redundancy and fault tolerance features, such as RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks), to ensure data is always available, even in the event of hardware failure.

Types of SAN Protocols:

SAN can use various networking technologies to communicate between servers and storage devices:

1. Fibre Channel (FC):
• A high-speed network technology used to connect servers and storage devices in a SAN. Fibre Channel SANs are known for their low latency and high performance, making them a popular choice for mission-critical applications.
2. iSCSI (Internet Small Computer System Interface):
• A protocol that allows servers to connect to storage devices over standard IP networks (such as Ethernet). iSCSI is more cost-effective than Fibre Channel because it uses existing network infrastructure, but it may have higher latency.
3. Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE):
• Combines Fibre Channel and Ethernet technologies, allowing Fibre Channel traffic to run over Ethernet networks. FCoE offers the benefits of both technologies, providing high performance while utilizing existing Ethernet infrastructure.
4. NVMe over Fabrics (NVMe-oF):
• A newer protocol designed for high-speed flash storage devices. NVMe-oF extends the performance advantages of NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) over network fabrics like Ethernet or Fibre Channel, providing ultra-fast access to data.

Examples of SAN Solutions:

• Dell EMC PowerMax
• NetApp SANtricity
• HPE 3PAR Store Serv
• IBM FlashS ystem
• Cisco MDS Fibre Channel SAN

Difference between  NAS  and DAS

NAS	DAS
1.         NAS    is          a          short    form    of            Network          Attached Storage.	1. DAS is a short form of Direct Attached Storage.
2. It uses files for backup and recovery.	2. It uses sectors for backup and recovery.
3. This storage Device is complex than the DAS device.	3. This storage device is simple, not complex.
4. Network Attached Storage is slightly difficult to set up.	4.  Direct  attached  Storage  is easy  to set  up and install.
5. The cost of this storage device is higher than the DAS device.	5. Its cost is low as compared to NAS.
6. The capacity of NAS is 109 to 1012 bytes.	7. The capacity of DAS is only 109 bytes.
7. This storage device allows users to share the files on different OS.	7. This storage device does not allow users to share the files on different OS.
8. It uses Ethernet and TCP/IP for transmission of data.	8. It uses IDE/SCSI for the transmission of data.

Difference between  DAS  and SAN

DAS	SAN
1. DAS is a short form of Direct Attached Storage.	1. SAN is a short form of Storage Area Network.
2. It uses sectors for backup and recovery.	2.  It  uses  block  by  block copying technique for backup and recovery.
3. This storage device is simple, not complex.	3. This storage Device is complex than the DAS device.
4. Direct attached Storage is easy to set up and install.	4.   Storage           Area    Network         is      slightly            difficult           to install and set up.
5. Its cost is low as compared to SAN.	5. The cost of this storage device is higher than the DAS device.
7. The capacity of DAS is only 109 bytes.	6. The capacity of SAN is more than the 1012 bytes.
7. This storage device does not allow users to share the files on different OS.	7. This storage device allows users to share the files on different OS.
8. It uses IDE/SCSI for the transmission of data.	8. It uses Internet Protocol and Fibre Channel for transmission of data.