~/netref / Storage Networking
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Storage Networking

Where networking meets storage — file vs block vs object, and the fabrics that carry it.

NASFile-level (NFS, SMB) over the regular LAN
SANBlock-level dedicated storage network
iSCSISCSI over TCP/IP (port 3260)
Fibre ChannelDedicated FC fabric (HBA, WWN)
FCoEFibre Channel encapsulated over Ethernet

// access model

Block
Raw volumes (SAN, iSCSI, FC) — databases, VM datastores
File
Shared filesystem (NAS, NFS, SMB) — home dirs, shares
Object
HTTP API + rich metadata (S3-style) — backups, media, cloud-native
// protocols & ports
iSCSITCP 3260Block over standard IP — low cost
Fibre ChannelFC fabricLossless block; HBAs & WWNs
FCoEEthernet + DCBFC frames carried over Ethernet
NVMe-oFTCP / RoCEFlash-native, ultra-low latency
NFSTCP/UDP 2049Unix / Linux file sharing
SMB / CIFSTCP 445Windows file sharing
// RAID levels
RAID 0StripingNo redundancy — max speed & capacity
RAID 1MirroringFull copy; survives 1 disk; 50% usable
RAID 5Stripe + paritySurvives 1 disk; needs ≥3
RAID 6Double paritySurvives 2 disks; needs ≥4
RAID 10Mirror + stripeSpeed + redundancy; needs ≥4

// concepts

  • LUN — a block volume presented to a host
  • Zoning — FC fabric access control (initiator ↔ target)
  • LUN masking — limits which hosts see a LUN
  • Multipathing (MPIO) — redundant paths to the array
  • Jumbo frames (MTU 9000) — fewer headers, more throughput
  • Thin provisioning — allocate capacity on demand

// facts

  • Block (SAN) vs File (NAS) vs Object (S3-style)
  • Jumbo frames (MTU 9000) boost storage throughput
  • Multipathing gives redundant paths to the array