Network Attached Storage [NAS]
NAS is a specialized data storage device connected to a network providing data access to other machines in the network over ethernet. It’s hardware, software, or specific configuration, limits it from doing any function other than storage.
Storage Area Network [SAN]
SAN is a dedicated network that allows servers to share a pool of storage resources. SANs are complex, interwoven systems most frequently used with mission-critical data.
NAS vs NAS
| NAS | SAN |
|---|---|
| Simple implementation, Requires no architectural changes in existing setup | Complex implementation, Requires architectural changes |
| Appears as a shared storage to the OS | SAN is transparent to the OS, acts as attached disk |
| Dependent on the LAN | Independent of the LAN |
| File Level Data | Block Level Data |
| Added as a component to the same network | Forms a separate Network |
| Uses Ethernet as primary media | Uses Fiber cables as primary media |
| Cheaper to add | Expensive, requires upfront investment |
| Slower access, low throughput and high latency | Faster access, high throughput, low latency |
| will need to configure for redundancy and disaster recovery | built-in high redundancy and easy disaster recovery |
| NFS/CIFS protocol | SCSI protocol |
| Limited Scalability, will need to replace the NAS device in most cases. | Relatively easy to scale out by adding more devices to the network |
Conclusion
As we see from the above table, SAN and NAS are not actually solving the same set of problems. Though they are similar in some aspects, they provide network storage in different ways. The solution that you need will rely entirely on your specifc use-case, what you are trying to achieve and how much you are willing to spend.
NASs are reliable, inexpensive, and ideal for someone looking for an easily implemented storage solution. SANs are high-performing, complex systems and ideal for mission-critical tools and companies looking for top-of-the-line storage performance and reliability.
It may be noted that, SAN and NAS are not mutually exclusive and may be combined as a SAN-NAS hybrid, offering both file-level protocols (NAS) and block-level protocols (SAN) from the same system.
References
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network-attached_storage
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storage_area_network
- https://ccbtechnology.com/san-vs-nas-whats-right-for-you/ [image courtesy]
