Network Attached Storage (NAS) VS Storage Area Network (SAN) storage net...

Storage Area Network (SAN), Network Attached Storage (NAS)

A Storage Area Network (SAN) is a high-speed, dedicated network that connects servers and storage devices, enabling the sharing of network storage resources. SANs typically utilize Fibre Channel technology to establish a dedicated network solely for storage purposes. It operates independently from the local area network (LAN) and allows for block-level storage access, making it suitable for applications that require fast, low-latency access to data. Network Attached Storage (NAS) is a file-level storage solution that connects to a LAN and provides shared storage resources to multiple clients or servers. Unlike SAN, NAS devices operate using standard network protocols, such as Ethernet, TCP/IP, and NFS or SMB/CIFS, and have redundant data structures for resiliency. NAS systems are easy to manage and offer a simplified approach to file sharing and data storage A storage area network or storage network is a computer network which provides access to consolidated, block-level data storage. SANs are primarily used to access data storage devices, such as disk arrays and tape libraries from servers so that the devices appear to the operating system as direct-attached storage