IP SAN

ALSO CALLED: Internet Protocol SAN, Internet Protocol Storage Area Networks, IP Storage, IP Storage Area Networks
DEFINITION: IP storage is a general term for several approaches to using the Internet Protocol (IP) in a storage area network (SAN) usually over Gigabit Ethernet. IP storage is an alternative to the Fibre Channel framework of the traditional SAN. Proponents of IP-based storage claim that it offers a number of benefits over the Fibre Channel alternative, and will promote the wide-spread adoption of SANs that  … 
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IP SAN DEFINITION (continued): …  was predicted when they were first introduced. Although SANs have been around since the mid-to-late 1990s, they haven't enjoyed the market acceptance that developers expected. Fibre Channel issues, including expense, complexity, and interoperability issues are frequently cited as the cause. According to proponents, IP storage provides a solution to these issues that will enable the SAN to fulfill its early promise.For example, taking advantage of common network hardware and technologies may make IP SANs less complicated to deploy than Fibre Channel. The hardware components are less expensive, … 
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