Monolithic SAN vs Modular SAN

[Deward]

I am here just to know the difference about the Monolithic SAN and Modular SAN. I am sure that there would be atleast someone who can help me on this topic. I have started gaining much knowledge from this site. Thanks to all the members for contributing... It would be better if you describe in details about the Monolithic SAN and Modular SAN. Hope that you people will not delay in giving the replies.

[Lawford]

Although well-developed services such as ILM, storage virtualization, and similar business benefits to immediately implement is their but in most environments, a major risk. The technical challenges in providing storage services at higher levels come from the fact that competent employees are forced, some layers with advanced functionality "collect" without compromising the stability of the existing SAN infrastructure. At the same time they must also integrate the management of new services into existing SAN administration tools, for only this step ensures that the benefits of the services is not lost through a complex process operating again. Few companies are willing to risk the integrity of their data, just to get the benefit of a new technology, and no one wants to put a solution that makes life more complex.

[Jagruti23]

Meanwhile, two different SAN architectures have been developed which address the problem of integrating well-developed services in storage networks. The monolithic approach tries all services, including involvement of the traditional SAN-switching in a single, large platform, which then forms the basis for a new SAN. This architecture thus combines the two-layer transport layer with the higher-quality services and integrates everything into a single hardware platform. The modular approach, seen in contrast to the Advanced Services as a separate component that can be added to an existing layer-2 SAN. The selection of a monolithic or modular design thus has a major impact on how the network can store over time to adapt with changing business requirements triggered changes.

[ScarFace 01]

Monolithic SAN

Monolithic SAN offer - as already mentioned - all recording services in a single device. A monolithic SAN director includes conduct such as port blades, the traditional switching operations, while supporting advanced services such as storage virtualization on specialized blades that administrators can use in the same chassis. At first glance it seems a useful approach to this act, which standardizes the management of traditional and new SAN services. New services can be on this path in the form of blades easily integrated into existing platforms.

Modular SAN

Modular SAN differ in contrast between the traditional two-layer SAN functionality and additional services. This approach improves the flexibility to be replaced because with its help, the problem components on different layers, leaving IT managers have to replace the entire SAN infrastructure. Specifically, its indicated that the additional services as separate building blocks can be supplied. Adding a new service such as storage virtualization can thus be introduced without interrupting the current operation or SAN directors replaced. Since the modular SAN protect customer investments in existing SAN infrastructures, also the cost of extending the SAN functionality remain manageable.

[Mariah-Simpson]

Adding a new service such as storage virtualization can thus be introduced without interrupting the current operation or SAN directors replaced. Since the modular SANs protect customer investments in existing SAN infrastructures, also the cost of extending the SAN functionality remain manageable.

It is sufficient to purchase only the new building blocks, the services required by the respective company now. At the same time, administrators also have the opportunity to update their existing two-layer and transport layer to expand, without the Advanced Services suffer. Customers therefore get the flexibility to their storage environments optimally adapted to the needs of their applications and to integrate them in one area such as a new director in order to improve the availability, and also to integrate into another area of a virtualization solution. In addition, modular SANs, the Director-scan hardware and make sure not to in this way their stability. Since the level of administrative services of all options easily integrated into an administration tool, you experience no difficulty in SAN Management. Administrators can therefore concentrate on the functionality and do not have to constantly deal with specific hardware configurations.

[Elijah2010]

I would like to discuss about Monolithic SAN. Monolithic systems but suffer from serious difficulties with the distribution, scalability and management during operation. SAN directors in question are primarily the task of bringing high performance, while ensuring the high availability of data. New hardware components in the form of blades to this problem is a potential danger because they can affect the stability of the system. So they raise through their additional demand for electricity among other things, the temperature of the entire system and require additional cooling devices indispensable. But the microcode that runs on the directors will be added to any service complex and thus more susceptible to interference. Since monolithic architectures also require that the companies replace existing SAN architectures with new, its implementation is necessarily a temporary loss of memory associated infrastructure, and existing investments in storage devices is lost to a great extent.