A SAN features a central, free-standing set of RAID disk drives. This central unit, or cluster of units, is connected to network servers via Fibre Channel a high-speed data connection. A SAN uses software to monitor and allocate data. The concept moves storage as an element of the network. The network now includes servers, clients and storage devices.
SANs move data to a more prominent position in the enterprise.
Prices in the Fibre Channel and SAN market are dropping at 40 percent per year, says Gray. And as the technology has matured, prices have come down into the range where agencies are willing to take chances. Xiotech Corp. While SANs are promising, there are concerns about this emerging technology. Standards still are being hashed out to enable Fibre Channel, SAN technology and storage management software to work with products from multiple vendors. On top of those potential problems is the fact that SANs are not easy to install.