SAN Storage Solutions: High-Performance SAN Storage for Growth

Benefits of Nfina’s SAN Storage Solutions

Flexibility, expandability, and control are the cornerstones of our storage area network. Whether you are a small business migrating to a data center or a large enterprise needing NVMe SAN storage in multiple locations, Nfina SANs will grow with your business. Regardless of the SAN storage area network model, one unique component that sets us apart from our competition is our management operating system.

Nfina-Store data management operating system, recommended for our storage systems, is easy to use, allowing users to create and centrally manage SAN arrays and clusters and create unlimited snapshots and clones at a preferred pace. For configuration assistance, our setup includes Nfina’s data storage consulting team. Most importantly, in the event of a natural disaster or ransomware attack, our SAN backup protection provides a rollback function, restoring data to a safe point before the incident.

Nfina SAN devices using Nfina-Store storage management software provide fast data storage access by only writing data that has changed rather than continually updating the entire SAN storage. Our SANs use unique tiered storage and caching system that prioritizes the most used data, making it quickly accessible. Only writing data changes allows users to back up their on-premise SANs to off-premise SANs in hours, not days. As an added security measure in our Nfina-Store software, our server SANs are copy-on-write meaning you can only write data to the SAN backup. Therefore, the data will avoid interception by would-be thieves.

Data security is a top priority for any business, especially when it comes to sensitive information such as financial records or customer data. Nfina’s storage area network(s) address this concern by providing enhanced security measures such as storage encryption and role-based access control (RBAC). These features ensure that only authorized personnel will have SAN access.

For SAN/DAS storage expansion, Nfina’s SAN Storage Area Network can connect to multiple DAS devices. Nfina JBODs come in twelve or twenty-four-bay systems. Up to 14 JBOD devices can connect to a SAN solution expanding your system to 336 additional drives. Nfina’s SAN offers significant cost savings. This is because our SAN solutions use shared resources and allows for centralized management, which reduces overall hardware costs and eliminates the need for multiple servers.

Can a SAN and NAS be used together to create a robust network? A typical SAN NAS example would be Nfina’s Hybrid Cloud Solutions. In this scenario, the NAS would be your on-premise server, and your SANs would be off-premise storage in the cloud. As mentioned above, only changed data is backed up to your SAN, and snapshots occur at your desired time frame.

In the realm of network storage, combining a Storage Area Network (SAN), fibre channel, and Network Attached Storage (NAS) can yield a remarkably robust storage infrastructure. By seamlessly integrating these two solutions, organizations can effectively address diverse data storage management needs while capitalizing on the unique strengths of each system. SAN storage excels in high-speed block-level access to centralized storage resources, providing unparalleled performance for critical applications and storage databases. On the other hand, NAS devices offer file-level access over Ethernet networks, making them ideal for simpler storage, file sharing and backup tasks within local area networks (LAN). The harmonious coexistence of SAN and NAS leverages their respective capabilities to create an intricate yet efficient storage ecosystem that caters to different types of workloads across an organization’s storage and networking architecture. This symbiotic relationship allows businesses to effortlessly scale their storage capacities as per evolving demands while ensuring reliable data availability, utmost flexibility, enhanced security measures, and a simplified storage management process – all contributing factors toward building a truly resilient network storage environment.

In addition to performance, reliability is paramount when it comes to SAN solutions. Nfinas understands this importance and has designed their servers with robust hardware components that are built to last. From redundant power supplies to advanced cooling systems, every aspect of our storage systems is carefully engineered for maximum uptime and data integrity. Our SAN storage array is built with redundant components such as power supplies, controllers, fans, and network interfaces. This means that in case one storage device fails due to a natural disaster or any other reason, the storage system as a whole will continue to function seamlessly using the backup component. Having redundant storage and hardware components significantly reduces downtime during emergencies and ensures business continuity.

Our Hybrid Cloud Solutions come with Nfina-View software that provides monitoring of all edge and cloud data storage pools in your network via a unified management control pane. If an outage or failure occurs, Nfina-View rolls back your systems to before the event occurred. Our Hybrid Cloud is a Hardware-as-a-Solution (HaaS) and Software-as-a-Solution (SaaS) that provides rapid Disaster Recovery, geo-redundancy, business continuity, and 24/7 data storage consulting and tech support.

For example, Montgomery Radiology Radiology Associates were using traditional solutions that could not keep up with the growing demand for storage space. This was impacting the efficiency of their daily operations and record keeping storage, leading to longer wait times for patients and overall dissatisfaction in their services.  By switching to Nfina’s storage devices, Montgomery Radiology Associates saw a remarkable improvement in their record keeping and storage efficiency.

We understand that some users may require hybrid solutions combining different storage technologies within one appliance. To address this demand, select storage appliances from our product line are configurable with Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe storage), SSDs, and HDDs – providing customers with unparalleled storage versatility when it comes to deploying hybrid solutions tailored precisely to their unique business requirements. In essence, Nfina’s wide array of innovative enterprise storage offerings solidify its position as an industry frontrunner dedicated to delivering comprehensive and scalable solutions.

Storage is an indispensable aspect of any organization’s IT infrastructure, and it plays a pivotal role in the efficiency and effectiveness of data management. Our solutions have been designed with three key features: flexibility, expandability, and control. Flexibility ensures that our storage systems can adapt to the evolving needs of businesses by accommodating different workloads and storage applications without compromising performance or scalability. With storage expandability as another cornerstone, our solutions offer seamless integration with additional storage capacity as your storage requirements grow over time. This eliminates the need for disruptive storage hardware upgrades or storage device replacements down the line. Lastly, centralized control empowers organizations by providing granular storage access controls and comprehensive storage monitoring capabilities to ensure optimal data security and compliant storage adherence at all times. Thus, our storage devices are tailored to cater to diverse business demands while offering a robust foundation for efficient data management operations.

When it comes to SAN storage servers, Nfinas stands out from its competitors in terms of storage features, performance, reliability, and price. With a wide range of options available to meet varying storage needs, Nfinas has established itself as a top choice for businesses and individuals alike.

The benefits of Storage Area Networks from Nfina include

• Acceleration of random writes with Write Log (ZIL)
• Compression and de-duplication for improved data acceleration and optimization
• Active-Active architecture and Active-Passive HA clustering for data availability
• On-site and Off-site data storage protection
• Unlimited storage snapshots, clones, and snapshot rollback for system backup and restoration
• Options to lease equipment by creating a hybrid cloud solution with HaaS, SaaS, and managed services
• Five-year product warranty
• 24/7 US-based tech support

View Nfina SAN Storage prices then contact our data storage consulting team for advice on which SAN is right for your business.

FAQ

What is a SAN (block vs file, typical protocols: Fibre Channel, iSCSI, NVMe/FC)? 

Unlike traditional file storage systems, which manage data at the file level, SAN Storage operates primarily at the block level, allowing servers to directly access disk arrays as if they were local drives. This architecture enhances efficiency and speeds up data transfer rates significantly. Typical protocols used in SAN implementations include Fibre Channel, known for its low-latency connections and robust reliability; iSCSI (Internet Small Computer System Interface), which utilizes standard Ethernet networks to transport SCSI commands over IP networks; and NVMe/FC (Non-Volatile Memory Express over Fibre Channel), an innovative protocol that leverages flash memory technology for even faster data processing speeds by reducing latency further than traditional methods. 

SAN vs NAS vs DAS: when to use each? 

SAN storage excels in environments requiring high-speed access to large volumes of data, often utilized by enterprises with critical applications like databases and virtual machines; it operates over a dedicated network that enhances performance and scalability, making it ideal for mission-critical workloads. In contrast, NAS offers a user-friendly approach suited for file sharing across networks; perfect for small to medium-sized businesses or home offices, NAS devices provide centralized storage that can be easily accessed by multiple users simultaneously through standard networking protocols such as SMB or NFS.  

On the other hand, DAS serves as a straightforward solution where direct connections link storage devices to computers or servers, typically used in scenarios where performance demands are lower or when simplicity is paramount. Each option has its unique advantages and ideal use cases depending on factors like scale requirements, budget constraints, and specific app 

What workloads need SAN? 

Workloads that require rapid data retrieval and low latency; like online transaction processing (OLTP) systems, also thrive in SAN environments due to their ability to handle large volumes of I/O operations efficiently. Furthermore, organizations leveraging big data analytics benefit from SAN storage’s scalability; they can seamlessly expand their capacity while maintaining consistent performance levels across various nodes. In addition to these dynamic workloads, SAN storage is essential for backup and disaster recovery solutions, providing robust redundancy features that ensure data integrity even during unforeseen events. The centralized management capabilities of SAN also streamline administrative tasks in complex IT infrastructures where efficient resource allocation is vital for operational success. 

How to size a SAN (IOPS/latency/capacity considerations)? 

First, assess the workload characteristics; high-transaction environments like databases may demand higher IOPS to ensure responsiveness under load. Understanding typical read/write patterns can help determine how many disk drives will be necessary to meet these demands without bottlenecking performance. 

Next, consider latency, measured in milliseconds, which is crucial for applications that require quick data access; this often hinges on the choice of storage media (SSD vs. HDD) and the efficiency of the network architecture connecting them. Additionally, plan for future growth: calculate total storage needs by evaluating current usage trends and anticipated increases in data generation while factoring in redundancy and backup strategies to maintain availability during peak loads or failures. 

What’s the difference between active/active and active/passive controllers? 

Active/active controllers operate in a mode where both controllers are simultaneously engaged in processing I/O requests, effectively balancing loads and providing redundancy; this configuration not only enhances throughput but also minimizes latency as workloads can be distributed across the available resources.  

In contrast, active/passive configurations designate one controller to handle all data traffic while the other remains on standby, ready to take over should the primary controller fail. This setup can simplify management and ensure system stability during a failure by reducing potential points of contention; however, it may lead to underutilization of hardware resources since only one controller is actively processing tasks at any given time 

How do snapshots/clones work (COW vs ROW) and DR/RPO/RTO? 

With COW, when a snapshot is taken, the original data remains unchanged while new writes occur in separate locations; this ensures that any modifications do not affect the point-in-time image captured by the snapshot. Conversely, ROW operates by writing changes to a new location before modifying the original data block itself; this approach can enhance performance during write-intensive operations but may require more upfront storage.  

Furthermore, these techniques are crucial in disaster recovery (DR) strategies where Recovery Point Objective (RPO), the maximum acceptable amount of data loss measured in time, and Recovery Time Objective (RTO), the duration it takes to restore services after an outage, are key considerations.