Fiber Channel storage area network
(also FC SAN)
Fiber Channel storage area network definition
A Fiber Channel storage area network (FC SAN) is a specialized high-speed network architecture that connects and manages storage devices. These are things like hard drives, solid-state drives, and tape libraries. Used mostly by large enterprises, this network architecture allows to store and retrieve data more efficiently. The Fiber Channel (known for its reliability and high performance) protocol is used to transmit data between servers and storage devices.
Fiber Channel SANs use dedicated high-speed optical or copper cables to create a separate network that’s dedicated solely to storage traffic. This isolation ensures that data transfer does not interfere with regular data network traffic and vice versa. SANs centralize storage resources, allowing multiple servers to access the same storage devices, making transfers and data retrieval much faster. Storage data is presented to servers as logical units, further enhancing flexibility and scalability.
See also: storage area network server
Advantages of using Fiber Channel storage area networks
- High-speed performance is the main benefit. Fiber Channel provides low-latency, speedy connections, making it ideal for things like databases and virtualization software.
- It’s highly reliable because it offers robust error handling and redundancy features, which minimize data loss and downtime.
- SANs are easy to scale by adding more storage devices or servers — it ensures they are easy to adapt to growing company needs.
- Fiber Channel SANs feature secure protocols and zoning for enhanced data protection.
- Easier maintenance for administrators since they can efficiently manage storage resources from a single point.
Disadvantages of using Fiber Channel storage area networks
- Fiber Channel SANs can be expensive to implement because of the specialized hardware and cabling requirements.
- Your administrators may need additional training since setting up and configuring the FC SAN requires certain expertise.
- The Fiber Channel protocol has distance limitations, so you might need to use fiber extenders or switches for longer connections.
- You may face some compatibility challenges between different generations of Fiber Channel devices.