Disk Arrays
SECURE DATA STORAGE
Modern disk array solutions are not only a place where our valuable data is saved on disks in a way protecting it against disk damage (RAID), loss of connection with the server (Multipath) or failure of one of the controllers (HA active-active or active-passive). Even in the Entry-Level models of the largest storage manufacturers in the world, we find a number of advanced features. Often they are not noticed or used at the beginning, but after some time of using them, IT administrators see the invaluable usefulness of many functions, which sometimes make the work much easier, or protect against irretrievable data loss.
Storage solutions available on the market are becoming more and more diverse, from simple and relatively cheap block arrays, through more advanced multi-protocol arrays, to complex SDS (Software Defined Storage) solutions, or bordering on virtualization HCI (Hyper Convergent Infrastructure).
Block arrays share their disk space via FC (Fibre Channel) or iSCSI protocols and thus guarantee very fast access and data exchange, which is ideal as a common disk resource, e.g. in virtualization clusters.
Block access arrays are also perfectly suitable for CCTV storage applications, where the emphasis is on the highest possible capacity in the smallest possible space occupied by the rack. Performance is not the key here, so in such cases high-capacity NL-SAS drives are used.
More advanced solutions of disk arrays are devices allowing to combine the functions of block access with additional services, e.g. sharing files in IP network by means of CIFS or NFS protocol. Very common are also solutions allowing integration with cloud services, e.g. via S3 protocol. Such solutions allow for greater flexibility in adapting to the changing needs of the infrastructure.
HCI is a combination of array and server in a single device offered by many storage vendors, with advanced scaling or QoS features.
It is impossible not to mention the increasingly popular matrix type AllFlash. This is nothing else than the disk arrays described above, but working exclusively with SSD drives. Thanks to the optimized architecture, they achieve record speeds in data access. Taking into account the falling prices of flash memory, more and more customers decide to use such solutions.
