Designing Storage Area Networks: A Practical Reference for Implementing Fibre Channel and IP SANs (2nd Edition)

Although storage networks share common components in the form of servers, storage, and interconnection devices, the configuration of a SAN is determined by the upper-layer application it supports. A post-production video editing application may have different requirements than a high-availability OLTP (on-line transaction processing) application. Server-free tape backup applications may employ unique hardware and software products that would not appear in a SAN designed to support server clustering. Because SANs offer the flexibility of networking, however, you can satisfy the needs of multiple applications within a single shared storage configuration.

The application studies in this chapter examine SAN installations that were designed to meet specific requirements. In some instances, the deployment of a new networked infrastructure provided additional opportunities for resolving unrelated issues. A SAN originally designed for a high-bandwidth application, for example, can also facilitate a more efficient tape backup solution. Where applicable, these studies indicate whether Fibre Channel or IP SAN interconnections are used, although the type of underlying plumbing is less important than the upper-layer applications being served.