disk array
A disk array is an enterprise storage system which contains multiple disk drives. It is differentiated from a disk enclosure in that an array has cache and intelligence so that it can perform functions like RAID and virtualization.
Components of a typical disk array include
Typical disk arrays fall into five categories: NAS, Modular SAN arrays, Monolithic SAN arrays, Storage Virtualization and Utility SAN Arrays.
Network attached storage (NAS) arrays
Network attached storage is a hard disk storage system on a network with its own LAN IP address. Examples:
- 3PAR and ONStor UtiliCat Unified Storage
HP ProLiant® Storage Server- Network Appliance Filer
- Sun StorageTek 5000 family
Modular storage area network (SAN) arrays
A SAN is a dedicated network, separate from LANs and WANs, that is generally used to connect numerous storage resources to one or many servers. Examples:
- 3PAR Inc. InServ E-Class
- EMC CLARiiON
- Fujitsu ETERNUS 4000/3000 series storage arrays
- HP Storageworks EVA family products
- Hitachi Thunder family products
- IBM DS4000/FAStT family of storage servers
- IBM DS6000 series storage servers
- Infortrend EonStor/EonRAID family
- Network Appliance FAS series Unified storage servers
- ONStor Pantera
- Sun StorageTek 6x40
- Xiotech Magnitude 3D
Monolithic (Enterprise)storage area network (SAN) arrays
Although this is not a strict definition, the array is considered monolithic when even basic configuration is physically too large to fit into a standard rack cabinet. These arrays are suited for large-scale environments. Examples:
- EMC Symmetrix
- Fujitsu ETERNUS 8000/6000 series storage arrays
- Hitachi Lightning and TagmaStore USP family products
HP XP- IBM Enterprise Storage Server (ESS)
- IBM DS8000 series of storage servers
- Infortrend EonStor / EonRAID family
- Sun StorEdge 99xx (9970, 9980, 9985, 9990)
Storage virtualization
Intelligent SAN or Storage Servers (Software that adds disk controller functionality to standard server hardware platforms). Hardware independent software that typically runs as a control program on top of a standard OS platform (Windows, Linux, etc.):
- DataCore Software Corporation SANsymphony and SANmelody Storage Server Virtualization Software
- Falconstor IPStor Software
- IBM SAN Volume Controller
- Network Appliance V-Series storage virtualization solutions
Utility Storage storage area network (SAN) arrays:
- 3PAR InServ Storage Servers
- Network Appliance FAS GX Series
- Pillar Data Systems Axiom
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