Small-midsized Business SAN resources and information - SearchSMBStorage.com

Small-midsized Business SAN

  • Choosing the right switch for an iSCSI SAN

    ISCSI storage doesn't actually require a switch. However, some iSCSI switches offer advanced capabilities that can increase SAN performance. This article offers information about choosing an iSCSI switch and a user case study.  Feature

  • iSCSI SAN solutions getting boost by shared storage, virtual servers

    Enterprises are increasingly considering iSCSI SANs for departmental applications, server workloads that aren't bandwidth-intensive, and virtual servers. In fact, the connection between shared storage and virtualized servers is changing the iSCSI SAN...  Feature

  • Should SMBs wait to deploy 10 Gigabit Ethernet?

    I don't think that there is any need to wait. 10 GigE is still pretty expensive compared to 1 GigE. The new Cisco Nexus 5000 switch is still running at about $900 a port.  FAQ

  • What should SMBs consider before deploying a virtualization solution?

    If an SMB is deploying a virtualization solution, you really need storage networking to get the maximum return on investment. When you think about virtual servers, some of the benefit is to be able to move your virtual machines between physical machi...  FAQ

  • Is an iSCSI SAN actually affordable?

    It's more affordable than a Fibre Channel SAN. When you step back and look at the big picture, if all storage is directly connected, it is stranded and can't be leveraged.  FAQ

  • What is a virtual LAN?

    A virtual LAN is a virtual network of servers that are not co-located like traditional servers. They could even be on different network segments, but they are bound together by software as if they are co-located on the same segment.  FAQ

  • What are the drawbacks of iSCSI SANs?

    Everything has its tradeoffs. An iSCSI SAN should not share a network with regular network traffic. The data transfer takes up too much network bandwidth and it will impact application performance.  FAQ

  • What are the benefits of iSCSI SAN for small-midsized businesses? Why not just use Fibre Channel?

    When you start looking at iSCSI versus Fibre Channel (FC), the barriers to adoption are very low for iSCSI. It really comes down to three things; cost, operational savings and existing expertise.  FAQ

  • Who are the major vendors in the iSCSI SAN market?

    You've got your usual suspects; EMC, HP, and IBM. All of those vendors have rolled out targeted efforts to gain space in the SMB share. You've also got NetApp, known as a leader in NAS, who supports iSCSI block data and file sharing in the same array...  FAQ

  • Pros and cons of iSCSI storage for SMBs

    The low cost, easy maintenance and simple management of iSCSI storage technology has spurred many SMBs to deploy SANs. Using iSCSI, SMBs can run block-based applications at performance levels that rival Fibre Channel SANs.  Learning Guide

  • See More: Essential Knowledge on Small-midsized Business SAN

  • World Wide Name (WWN)

    A World Wide Name (WWN) is a unique identifier that is assigned to a manufacturer by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and hard-coded into a Fibre Channel (FC) device.  Definition

  • SAN-in-a-box

    A SAN-in-a-box, also known as a SAN-in-a-can or a SAN kit, is a data storage device that includes all the basic SAN components are in a single package.  Word

  • What you need to know about SMB SANs

    Marc Staimer discusses what to look for in an SMB SANs this Q&A and recent developments in SMB SAN technology.  Podcast

  • ISCSI SAN FAQ podcast

    Terri McClure, analyst with Enterprise Strategy Group, discusses the pros and cons of iSCSI SANs, the iSCSI SAN market and whether iSCSI SANs are really a good fit for SMBs.  Podcast

About Small-midsized Business SAN

Small-midsized businesses (SMB) have traditionally stayed away from storage area network (SAN) implementations because of costs and complexities. This topic section discusses the latest technologies that are making SAN a viable option for SMBs including, Fibre Channel, iSCSI, host bus adapters and all-in-one SANs. Learn more about SAN design, routing, partitioning and management.