NAS VS SAN

NAS VS SAN

1. NAS

   • provides storage and file system
   • not designed to be a general purpose server
   • manufactured as computer appliance
   • cost effective/ cheaper
   • does not require a fully-featured OS
   • contains one or more hard disk drives
   • uses file-based protocols

2. SAN

   • block level data storage
   • appears to client as a disk and not a file server
   • centralized data storage model
   • file system has to be handled on client side
   • also contains software management layer
   • operates in 3 layers
   • commonly used protocol - Fiber Channel Protocol