Storage Area Network Architecture (SAN Architecture)

What Does Storage Area Network Architecture (SAN Architecture) Mean?

Storage area network (SAN) architecture refers to the logical layout of a SAN infrastructure.

This architecture defines:

• How the SAN is logically created
• Components used
• Data storage and retrieval frameworks
• Device/host interconnectivity
• Other parameters/components essential for a SAN
  

Techopedia Explains Storage Area Network Architecture (SAN Architecture)

There are two types of SAN architecture, storage-centric SAN architecture and network-centric SAN architecture.

A SAN generally consists of three core components; therefore, SAN architecture is composed of:

• Hosts: These are the system/end devices that use the SAN services. This can include servers and computers on the network.


• Fabric: This consists of the interfaces such as fiber channel and host bus adapter that enable connectivity between the hosts and SAN infrastructure.


• Storage: This is the physical storage drives.

Typically, SAN architecture defines:

• Pool of storage used and how it is shared in between different servers or computers connected via the network


• Type of network or data transmission connection used between the key SAN infrastructure and all connecting nodes


• Placement of data depending upon the type of SAN architecture or topology


• Type of SAN topology being used

SAN architecture also includes SAN management applications and the overall data storage, consumption and retrieval policy that governs the SAN's resources.