3.1. Storage Networking Terminology

Storage networking end systems include storage devices and the interfaces that bring them into the network. RAID arrays, just a bunch of disks (JBODs), tape subsystems, optical storage systems, and host adapter cards installed in servers are all end systems. The interconnect products that shape these end systems into a coherent network are discussed in the following sections on Fibre Channel, Gigabit Ethernet, and NAS. New SAN products such as virtualization devices and SAN appliances that front-end storage may, depending on implementation, also be considered end systems from the standpoint of storage targets, or interconnects from the standpoint of hosts.

3.1.1. RAID

RAID is both a generic term for intelligent ...

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