Distributed Storage Network Examples

Storage networks are now a commonly accepted technology in the same league as databases and Local Area Networks. According to leading analysts, more than 70% of external storage devices are already connected to servers via storage area networks.

Storage networks provide shared access to stored data from multiple computers and servers, thereby increasing storage efficiency and availability. They permit information management functions such as backup and recovery, data mirroring, disaster recovery, and data migration to be performed quickly and efficiently, with a minimum of system overhead.

More and more organisations, having centralised storage for all classes of applications into single arrays or clusters of arrays within a single data centre, recognise the fragility and value of that resource.

Replication to an alternative, secure location provides peace of mind and with an appropriately designed optical network, continuity in the case of failure.

Other enterprises might have storage arrays deployed in several locations, with each supporting one or more discrete functions. In such cases, an optical storage network might make the resources of all of the arrays available to every part of the enterprise - transparently and without performance penalty.

Vtesse storage networks support many forms of storage and many different geographical challenges. From distribution of (relatively) simple NAS resources via Ethernet or iSCSI, to more complex SAN arrays using Fibre Channel and its derivatives, to full blown Enterprise arrays from manufacturers such as Hitachi, IBM and EMC using hybrid networking technologies like FICON and Fibre Channel.