Computer Storage

Computer storage refers to the hardware components and technologies that used to store digital data. This data can include operating systems, applications, documents, media files, and more. Storage allows a computer to retain information, both temporarily for active tasks and permanently for long-term data retention.

Data can be stored in different ways as follows.

• Local Storage

• Direct Attached Storage (DAS)

• Storage Area Network (SAN)

• Network Attached Storage (NAS)

• Cloud Storage

Local Storage (Direct/Internal Storage)

Local Storage refers to storage devices that are directly connected to a single computer or server, either internally or externally

Examples:

• Internal HDDs (Hard Disk Drives)

• Internal SSDs (Solid State Drives)

• External USB Drives

• Memory Cards (SD Cards)

Key Features:

• Direct Access: Data is stored locally on the device

• High Speed: Faster access since there's no network latency

• Limited Scalability: Expansion required adding physical drives to the machine.

• Security: Data is safer from external breaches unless physically accessed.

Use Cases:

• Personal Computers

• Laptops

• Workstations

Direct Attached Storage (DAS)

DAS refers to storage devices that are physically connected to a specific computer or server without a network in between.

Examples:

• External Hard Drives such as CD/DVD, USB Drives, External Hard Disks connected via USB, SATA, or Thunderbolt.

• RAID Arrays attached via SAS (Serial Attached SCSI)

Key Features:

• No Network Involvement: Data is accessed directly through cables.

• Performance: High-Speed data transfer, especially with SSDs or RAID setups.

• Limited Accessibility: Only accessible to the device it's connected to.

• Simple setup: Plug-and-play in many cases.

Use Cases:

• Video editing workstations needing fast access to large files

• Small businesses for basic data storage needs

• Backup solutions for servers.

Network Attached Storage (NAS)

NAS is a dedicated file storage system connected to a network, allowing multiple users and devices to access the data simultaneously. It operates over standard Ethernet networks.

Examples:

• Synology NAS Devices

• QNAP Storage Appliances.

• Custom-built Linux-based NAS (Using FreeNAS, OpenMediaVault, etc.)

Key Features:

• Network-Based: Accessible over LAN or remotely via the internet.

• File sharing: Supports multiple file protocols like NFS, SMB/CIFS, FTP.

• Centralized Storage: Ideal for backups, media servers, and collaborative works.

• Redundancy: Often Configured with RAID for data protection.

• User Management: Permissions and access Control for different users.

Use Cases:

• Home Media servers

• Office file sharing and backups

• Cloud Storage alternatives for small businesses.

Storage Area Network (SAN)

SAN is a high-speed network that connects multiple servers to shared storage devices. Unlike NAS, SAN operates at the block level making it ideal large-scale enterprise environments.

Examples:

• Fibre Channel SANs (High-Speed Optical Networks)

• iSCSI SANs (SAN over Ethernet)

Key Features:

• Block-Level Storage: Servers see SAN Storage as Local Disks, Providing high performance.

• High Availability: Designed for redundancy and failover.

• Scalability: Easily expand storage capacity and performance.

• Complex Setup: Requires specialized hardware (Switches, HBAs) and expertise.

Use Cases:

• Large data centers

• Enterprise databases (E.g., Oracle, SQL Servers)

• Virtualization environments (VMware, Hyper-V)

Cloud Storage (Remote/Virtual Storage)

Cloud Storage refers to data storage on remote servers accessed over the internet. Managed by third party providers, it offers scalability, redundancy, and global access.

Examples:

• Amazon S3

• Google Cloud Storage

• Microsoft Azure Blob Storage

• DropBox, Google Drive

Key Features:

• On-Demand Access: Access data from anywhere with an internal connection.

• Pay-as-you-go: costs based on usage, no need for physical hardware.

• Scalable: Instantly expand storage as needed.

• Managed Services: Backup, redundancy, and security handled by the providers.

Use Cases:

• Cloud Backups

• Disaster recovery solutions

• Web hosting and content delivery

• Big data analytics

Each storage type serves a specific purpose, from personal data management to enterprise-scale data centers