Designing Storage Area Networks - A Practical Reference for Implementing Fibre Channel and IP SANs

Storage Area Networks (SANs) are now recognized as the preferred solution for fulfilling institutions' and enterprises' critical data-storage needs. Whether powered by Fibre Channel or TCP/IP and Gigabit Ethernet technology, SANs far exceed the capabilities of traditional storage access methods. SANs are quickly becoming the solution of choice for organizations that require high-volume data-handling capacity.

Written for network developers, IT consultants, administrators, and managers, this updated and greatly expanded edition of the best-selling Designing Storage Area Networks goes far beyond a straight description of technical specifications and standards. The text offers practical guidelines for using diverse SAN technologies to solve existing networking problems in large-scale corporate networks. With this book you will learn how the technologies work and how to organize their components into an effective, scalable design. In doing so, you will discover today's best methods for managing storage area networks, including new troubleshooting techniques.

Designing Storage Area Networks, Second Edition, also features detailed case studies that demonstrate how SANs can solve a number of commonly encountered business challenges, including LAN-free and server-free tape backup, server clustering, and disaster recovery. As an information-systems professional, you must keep pace with this powerful, evolving technology.

Contents

• Introduction
• Storage and Networking Concepts
• Fibre Channel Internals
• Fibre Channel SAN Topologies
• Fibre Channel Products
• IP SAN Technology
• IP SAN Products
• SAN Software Products
• Problem Isolation in SANs
• Management of SANs
• Storage Virtualization
• Application Studies
• SAN Issues
• SAN Futures

• Appendix A SAN Resources
• Appendix B SAN and Related Vendors
• Appendix C The Standardization Process
• Appendix D The Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA)
• Appendix E The SNIA Shared Storage Model
• Appendix F The SNIA Dictionary of Storage Networking Terminology
• Appendix G SAN Essays