| Integration of SANs into Mainstream Networking The historical trend of information technologies is toward widespread deployment, greater functionality, and lower total cost. The core value of SANs is reemerging on the basis of affordable and supportable mainstream technologies. The integration of SANs into mainstream networking fosters diversity in products to provide differentiation between vendor offerings. Ubiquity of Shared Storage The proliferation of SAN technology results in ubiquitous storage access. Compaq's Enterprise Network Storage Architecture (ENSA) first defined the storage utility model. A storage utility is a single storage repository of global extent that leverages open standards to provide any-to-any connectivity between servers and storage. Ubiquitous access to storage requires security mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access. Virtualization Ubiquitous access does not guarantee that access will be used. Storage virtualization complements and enhances common storage access. Virtualization intelligence should be undetectable. Standardization of virtualization technology accelerates adoption and deployment. Human Factors The combination of storage and networking has spawned new architectures, concepts, and vocabulary. Enterprise networks typically do not have staff dedicated to storage administration. Training and certification should include high-level SAN concepts and design. To leverage the benefits and economy of SANs, customers must invest in upgrading the skillsets of storage and networking staff. Contributing Technologies InfiniBand will integrate with storage networking via target channel adapter (TCA) bridges. 10Gbps Ethernet enables high-performance iSCSI storage arrays supporting hundreds of initiators simultaneously. ATA disk technology and new solid state storage will impact SAN storage at both the low and the high ends of the market. New technologies make the SAN landscape more complex but offer additional options and benefits to customers. |