Storage Devices

To store data, regardless of its form, users need storage devices. Storage devices fall into two main categories: direct storage and network storage.

Direct Storage

Direct storage, also known as direct attached storage (DAS), as the name suggests, is often in close proximity and directly connected to the computing machine that accesses it. Often it is the only machine connected to it. DAS can also provide decent local backup services, but sharing is limited. DAS devices include:

• Floppy disks
• Optical disks (compact discs (CDs) and digital video discs (DVDs))
• Hard disk drives (HDDs)
• Flash drives
• Solid state drives (SSDs)

Network Storage

Network storage allows more than one computer to access it over a network, making it better for data sharing and collaboration. Its off-site storage capability also makes it better for backup and data protection. Two common network storage setups are network attached storage (NAS) and storage area network (SAN).

NAS

• A single device consisting of redundant storage containers or redundant array of independent disks (RAID).
• File storage system
• TCP/IP Ethernet network
• Limited users
• Limited speed
• Limited expansion possibilities
• Lower cost and easy setup

SAN

• Network of several devices
• Block storage system
• Fibre Channel network
• Optimized for multiple users
• Faster performance
• Highly expandable
• Higher cost and complex configuration