A NAS primarily provides files on the network. A SAN displays storage blocks to servers, as if they were local drives.
In brief….The choice is not only about performance, but also about availability, backup, skills, network and overall cost.
Solution A….
NAS
The NAS displays sharing via protocols such as SMB or NFS.
Key points…
- Relatively accessible administration
- Ideal for shared files and backups according to model
- Access to file level
Solution B….
SAN
SAN provides block volumes via Fibre Channel, iSCSI or other storage technologies.
Key points…
- Access to the block level
- Often used for virtualisation and databases
- More complex and expensive architecture
Comparative table….
| Criterion…. | NAS | SAN |
|---|---|---|
| Level | File | Block |
| Protocols | SMB, NFS | Fibre Channel, iSCSI |
| Use | Sharing, archives, backup | Data Stores, 2007-11-13, demanding applications |
| Complexity | Low to medium | Medium to high |
Choose NAS if…
You need file sharing, backup, or storage, simple to administer.
Choose SAN if…
You have virtualization hosts or applications requiring shared block storage and controlled high availability.
Key takeaways
The choice is not only about performance, but also about availability, backup, skills, network and overall cost.
Deepening the two notions….
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