Data Storage

#ffffff;" />which is a network of storage devices. These
Perhaps it is karma, but the more successful youstorage devices are connected to each other and to
become, the more data you will have to deal with.a server with the help of some special switches. SAN
Effectively managing massive amounts of data oftentakes the backup of data from your network
comes down to the issue of data storage.without affecting the standard network
Data Overloadinfrastructure.
Mass data means large volumes of data or bulk data.For connecting SAN storage devices, you can use
Both in a standalone PC as well as in a networkfiber channel, a latest and most significant technology
environment, we generally face the problem ofthat interconnects storage devices and allows them
managing data. The data grows day-by-day therebyto communicate at very high speeds and at greater
creating problems of data handling. No doubt theredistances than previously possible. It can cover up to
are various techniques and devices that are capable6 miles.
of storing large amount of data like hard drives,Two techniques that are quite popular these days
optical disks, tapes etc. Hard drives are now availablefor data storage are RAID and SCSI. Both are high
in almost all new computers. Data on a hard drive isspeed and reliable techniques in data storage. These
stored on it through magnetic material. CD-ROMtechniques can be implemented in most storage
stores data on compact disks and it can store datamechanisms like DAS, NAS and SAN. RAID is a series
up to about 600MB. Another relatively new device inof standards that improves performance and fault
competition to CD-ROM is DVD (Digital Versatile Disk)tolerance by using a redundant array of inexpensive
that has a capacity of 4.7 GB to 17GB and rate ofdisks (hence the acronym). This type of protection is
data access from 600 Kbps to 1.3 Mbps. All of theserequired in all data storages.
devices manage and store in different ways. If youThree major factors that need consideration in any
are working in network environment then thesedata management technique or data storage device
techniques are not going to help you as much asare capacity, speed and security. Capacity means
others.amount of data that can be stored. Speed means
Most businesses need to store data in order to makerate at which data can be retrieved. Some common
it accessible whenever required. NAS (networkinterfaces for data storage are fiber channel, IEEE
attached storage) is a fairly new mechanism of1394, IDE, SCSI controllers and USB.
managing data, which use special devices that areSome advanced techniques for managing data on
connected directly to network equipments. Theseyour computer are DFS (Distributed File System) and
devices are accessible to clients through a server;EFS (Encrypting File System). DFS helps in locating
each client has its own IP address. NAS is centralizedand managing data on network. DFS bonds files on
storage technology. If you want to store more datadifferent computers and make them appear as single
or want to expand the storage then just add“namespace”. EFS are used to store
another device. Another technology that is quiteencrypted files on NTFS volumes. EFS prevent
popular nowadays is SAN (Storage Area Network),unauthorized user access.