salvestusvõrgud

Salvestusvõrgud, also known as storage area networks (SANs), are specialized high-speed networks that provide block-level access to shared storage devices. Unlike direct-attached storage (DAS) where storage is connected to a single server, SANs allow multiple servers to access a pool of storage resources simultaneously. This shared access is crucial for applications requiring high availability, performance, and scalability.

The primary function of a salvestusvõrk is to abstract storage from the servers. Instead of servers having their own dedicated disks, they connect to the SAN fabric, which then presents storage volumes (logical units or LUNs) to the servers as if they were local disks. This separation offers several advantages. For instance, it simplifies storage management, allowing administrators to allocate and reallocate storage capacity across servers without physical intervention.

Salvestusvõrgud typically employ dedicated network protocols like Fibre Channel or iSCSI (Internet Small Computer System Interface) for data transmission. Fibre Channel is a high-performance, low-latency protocol commonly used in enterprise environments. iSCSI, on the other hand, uses standard Ethernet infrastructure, making it a more cost-effective solution for many organizations. The infrastructure of a SAN includes storage controllers, host bus adapters (HBAs) in servers, and high-speed switches to connect these components.

Key benefits of implementing a salvestusvõrk include improved storage utilization through pooling, enhanced data availability and disaster recovery capabilities due to features like mirroring and snapshots, and better application performance as servers are not competing for direct access to physical disks. This makes SANs a foundational technology for modern data centers and enterprise IT infrastructures.