What is a Storage Area Network?

Data management software can make your lifeWhat? I think I know less about what a SAN or
easier when it comes to sorting, analyzing, andstorage area network is than before I read the
putting your customer and business data intodefinition. I guess there needs to be a special
subsets. But you also need to know how to storedictionary published just for computer jargon.
the information for easy access. If you are notEspecially when they borrow another word
using any form of data management software,commonly used to mean something else. This
you need to read this article before yourdefinition calls a storage area network an
competition finds out.architecture. When I think of architecture, I
Have you even tried to translate computer jargonautomatically bring to mind a particular building
into real language an ordinary person canstyle, like Tudor architecture. Who would have
understand? It's almost impossible! It is almost likeever guessed you could also use the term
computer junkies don't want us commonersarchitecture to describe how you build a
know what they are discussing. Take, forcomputersystem. Would you like your Apple
instance, a storage area network. Since I don'tMacbook Pro with Tudor architecture or
know anything about this topic, I decide to searchVictorianarchitecture? Sorry, but I had to look this
the Internet for information. My results includeterm up to find what it meant in computer jargon.
mention of information likely written in a foreignShould you have to look up the definition of a
language.definition?
Not to pick on Wikipedia, but their definition wasThe next thing that bothers me about computer
the first one I came across. All the others I founddefinitions is the number of acronyms they use. If
were just about as bad when describing storageI don't know what something means and have to
area networks. According to Wikipedia, "Inlook up a definition, I probably also don't know
computing, a Storage Area Network (SAN) is anwhat the acronyms stand for. Spell them out,
architecture to attach remote computer storageplease! For instance, what is NSF? How about SMB
devices such as disk array controllers, tapeCIFS? For all I know, they're contagious diseases.
libraries and CD arrays to server in such a wayI guess it just goes to show there is a part of
that to the operating system the devices appearthe brain that thinks like a computer. Like most
as locally attached devices…By contrast toother talents, you either have it or you don't.
aSAN, Network Attached Storage (NAS), usesWhile one person can read the definition of a
file-based protocols such as NFS or SMB/CIFSstorage area network and come away with a
where it is clear that the storage is remote, andclear idea of what the term means, some of us
computers request a portion of an abstract filejust can't wrap our brains around the idea.
rather than a disk block."