In-band or out-of-band SAN appliances Essay Example for Free

In-band or out-of-band SAN appliances EssayOut-of band SAN appliances allow for independent flow of information between servers and storages since it does not function deep down the data path (InfoWorld, 2001). In addition, execution of management functions by these appliances is independent of coat servers, a mover which dictates for having host drives. This has the implication that the positioning of an out-band SAN appliance posses performance concerns in the system (InfoWorld, 2001).Another implication is that join on in the number of server in such a system complicates administration issues. Still, out-of band SAN appliances take on its meta-data and control operations separate from the data path. This coupled with the need for having a driver at severally host frees the host to engage only in transferring data to and from the storage. Nevertheless, this configuration has the advantage of caching due to the petition time delays involved in linking data path informat ion and the appliance for processing.On the other hand, in-band SAN appliances give a single device for executing all the basic storage management functions namely data path, control operations, and meta-data management (Kornfeld, 2001). This has the implication that no additional driver software is needed in the host. Also, this enhances scalability of the SAN system. However, this limits the application of in-band SAN appliances in a busy SAN since both meta-data and control operations share the same data path. scorn this, in-band SAN appliances enjoy the privilege of allowing for caching and clustering (InfoWorld, 2001). In addition, being a single device, in-band SAN appliances boast of low toll of implementation and ease of administration (Kornfeld, 2001). Therefore, both in-band and out-of-band SAN appliances have advantages as well as disadvantages. Considerations before excerption of a SAN appliance should thus be based on the needs in the particular organization.