Data center storage definition
Data center storage is the combination of facilities, hardware, and software used to store data in data centers. Proper data center storage is critical for safely managing large volumes of data in an efficient manner.
See also: data backup, data breach, data center rack, cold data, database replication, data vaulting, shared storage
Types of data center storage
- Primary storage: Primary storage is reserved for active data and typically provided by solid-state drives, hard disk drives, or other fast storage devices. Primary storage is used for transactional databases, virtual machines, file servers, and other applications that require constant access to data.
- Secondary storage (auxiliary storage): Secondary storage is used for backup and archiving. Secondary storage prioritizes capacity and cost over high-speed access to data. Secondary storage solutions include tape drives, compact disks, and network-attached storage devices.
Data center storage management
- Data replication: Data replication is the practice of keeping identical copies of data across multiple storage systems. When data is replicated, it is usually copied from primary storage to secondary storage. Data replication ensures redundancy in the event of failure and helps avoid congestion when multiple users need access to the same data.
- RAID (redundant array of independent disks): RAID involves using multiple hard disk or solid-state drives to create a single storage unit. Compared to using a single disk, this combined storage unit provides better performance and is less prone to critical failure.
