The reliability of a Storage Area Network (SAN) can be compromised by any number of factors. SANs are composed of both mechanical and electronic parts doubling the chances for data loss or downtime through common issues like:
- Component failure due to usage
- Environmental factors
- Manufacturing defects
- Control failure
- Disk drive degradation
- Power supply burn outs
When developing a Storage Area Network for reliability of the system as a whole should be the key initiative over individual part ratings. The system design is the critical point in the development process that will determine the SANs ability to cope with any of the factors outlined above. Some of the best practices for SAN system design include:
- Interoperable infrastructure
- Redundent system architecture
- Advanced chassis design
- Flexible RAID configuration
- Automatic load balancing
- more…
This white paper, produced by Dell EqualLogic, outlines the difficulties faced by system architects when when building storage area networks and the key elements of desiging a reliable network.
