Network Storage Systems

In simplest terms, network storage refers to methods of storing data to make it available to clients on the network. As the volume of data continues to increase exponentially, several technologies have also evolved to make data more accessible over the network.
     o Direct Attached Storage (DAS) remains the most common method of storing data. It refers to a storage device that is directly attached to a host system. It could be the internal drive of a server or an external storage box.
     o Network Attached Storage (NAS) uses devices connected directly to the network media. Each device has its own IP address, which allows it to be accessed through a server acting as gateway or directly by multiple clients. In a NAS structure, data storage, security, management and backup may be centralized even if the servers may be running different operating systems.
     o Storage Area Network (SAN) refers to a network of storage devices connected to one other and to a server, or cluster of servers acting as access point(s) to the SAN. In a SAN structure, special switches are used to connect the devices, so they can communicate with each other on a separate network. A SAN a dedicated network for data storage as well as automatic data backup.

Micro/Cloud Servers

allow clients to rent virtual server space instead of renting or purchasing physical servers. A cloud server has similar capabilities and functionalities of a typical server but it is built, hosted and delivered through a cloud computing platform over the Internet and accessed remotely via a cloud service provider.