Storage Area Network (SAN):
SAN with the help of switches and fiber channel transfers the data between various storage type devices as well as the servers.
The main focus of the SAN is to concentrate and combine all the data over a single storage device and then share it across various other servers.
This network is much robust and also acts as a secure technology for communication.
Network Attached Storage (NAS):
NAS with the help of Local area network grants a file-sharing feature for the file-based storage technology.
The main focus of the NAS is to have a shared network for transferring files rather than having a dedicated network.
The objective of NAS is to have server consolidation to decrease the number of servers in the network.
Difference between Storage Area Network(SAN) and Network Attached Storage(NAS) in Tabular Form:
| Basis | SAN | NAS |
|---|---|---|
| Full form | Storage Area Network | Network Attached Storage |
| Data Identification | It is done with the help of the disk block | It is done with the help of the byte offset along with the file name |
| Sharing Limit | File-sharing in the network completely depends upon the Operating System | file-sharing also depends on the operating system. But, the sharing is exceptional for NT and UNIX |
| Essential Protocols | Fibre Channel / SATA and SCSI | NFS / CIFS and File server |
| Backup Technique Used | Using block by block copying technique | Through files and mirrors |
| Cost and Nature | Very costly and expensive | Cheap and cost-effective |
| Maintenance | Need proper administration | Easy to maintain |
| Scalability | Scalable | Not highly scalable |
| Data Processing | Block data | File-based data |
| File System Management done by | Servers | Head unit |
Key Differences:
- DATA IDENTIFICATION
When we talk about the Storage area network then, in this network the identification of data is done with the help of the disk block; whereas; when we talk about the Network-attached storage then, in this network the identification of data by the byte offset along with the file name.
- LIMIT OF THE SHARING
In case of the storage area network, the file-sharing in the network completely depends upon the Operating System (OS); whereas; in case of the network-attached storage, the file-sharing depends on the operating system. But, the sharing is exceptional for NT and UNIX.
- ESSENTIAL PROTOCOLS
If we pay attention to the storage area network then, the most essential protocols required in this network are as follows-
- Fibre Channel / SATA
- SCSI
If we pay attention to the network-attached storage then, the most essential protocols required in this network are as follows-
- NFS / CIFS
- File server
- BACKUP TECHNIQUE USED
In case of the storage area network, the backup and recovery for this very network are done through the block by block copying technique; in case of the network-attached storage, the backup and recovery is done through files and mirrors.
- COST AND NATURE
When we talk about the Storage area network then, this network is very costly and expensive; and has quite a complex nature. Whereas; when we talk about the Network-attached storage then, this network is cheap and cost-effective; and has less complex nature.
