Breaking down SAN and NAS.

Storage area network (SAN) is a high-speed dedicated network of servers and shared storage devices. A SAN provides storage and enables centralized data management. It meets the storage demands efficiently with better economies of scalability and also provides effective maintenance and protection of data. Network attached storage (NAS) is a high-performance file sharing and storage device. NAS allows its clients to share files with an IP address.  In other words SAN and NAS both are network technologies that allow you to manage the disk storage on your network. However, NAS is a much simpler and less expensive than SAN.

            Using network attached storage actually reduces the task of adding storage to a network because it eliminates the priority of configuring a network operating system for routine file sharing tasks. A storage area network is designed for managing very large amounts of network storage. A SAN contains three components: storage devices (which could be hundreds of them), a separate high-speed network (normally fiber-optic) that directly connects the storage devices to each other, and on or more SAN servers that connect the SAN to the local area network. The SAN server manages the storage devices attached to the SAN and allows users of local area networks (LAN) to access the storage.

            A NAS is dedicated specifically to serving files. The hardware is optimized it could have more network connections. Also its operating system is slim down so that it is dedicated to sharing files and not performing other functions. People use this device to store files that is accessible to other people. NAS uses Linux, Windows, Mac share data, large files and backup locations. Typically with SAN, servers access specific parts of the storage. Clients of SAN have storage utilization of moving and reallocating storage. SAN also uses iSCSI and Fibre channel. This is the protocol used to access your storage. iSCSI has a lower cost that comes with a lower performance. Fibre Channel has a higher cost with better performance. 

If you need more of an overview check out this video!

My Favorite Open Source Product.

Today’s writing will be about my favorite open source program. Google Chrome would have to be my top open source program. It is just something I use daily when I browse the web. I know a lot of people can say that they don’t care about what web browser they use to surf the web but when you experience Google Chrome it gives you a different web browsing experience. Chrome is built to make the most of your web browsing experience.

The great experience that you receive from Google Chrome is free on top of that. You don’t have to pay for anything from chrome, unless you decide to visit the Chrome Web Store. The store does provides thousands of free or paid extensions, apps and themes for your browser. Extensions enhance your web browser by so much more. I currently have Google Docs, AdBlock and Google Hangouts as my extensions. The speed and security that google chrome provides is also excellent. Chrome is fast to start up, fast to search and to load your web pages. Chrome also stays updated to bring you new enhancements to your browsing experience. I would have to say having the search combined with the search bar makes everything covenant and that much faster.

The address bar also has a star icon to bookmark your favorite pages you always visit. I also have the google chrome app on my cell phone. If you have a Gmail account you google will save your entire web browsing searches, favorite sites and link them to whatever device or computer that you sign into Gmail with. This allows me to stay connected to my favorite browser content on my devices. Google built Chrome off of simplicity and customization. Every user can have their browser set to their very own preferences to enhance their web browsing experience. Google Chrome really gives you no limits to web surfing. I recommend everyone to download Google Chrome and give it a try!

https://www.google.com/chrome/browser/

The Boston Celtics' explosion of digital video.

The Boston Celtics’ IT infrastructure is looking to scale out digital video storage. Digital video is the Celtics’ largest percentage of data. Their audio, photographs and graphics take up space but not as much. The team is moving from scaling up storage to scale out. This is due to them having an expected growth rate of at least 20 terabytes per year.  The Celtics are currently using EMC’s VNX system for storage. This hybrid data storage array features powerful multicore optimization and expands to 3,000 terabytes max capacity. The Celtics’ also use an older Clariion AX4 for disk based backups and archives. The team has a lot of analytics to do with EMC to determine a scaling out solution.

Scale-Out

The Celtics’ CTO (Chief technology officer) Jay Wessland wants to really make a major upgrade instead of using minor changes of scaling up to accommodate their storage needs. These minor changes are expensive so it would be smart to get a more sustainable system for their growing digital video storage needs. The team saves game video, interview video and event video that is used on the Celtics’ website, YouTube and social media. These parts of video are used mainly to give access to the fans. The basketball/business side also has a different location of similar video stored separately.

This side of the business uses videos for game tape on future opponents and self-scouting. They also use it in scouting whether its future NBA prospects or team needs in free agency. The Celtics’ goal is to have their digital video storage scaled out into a cloud so that it can be retrieved when needed and not taking up all of their internal storage. The retrieval cost of the cloud can be costly but that is not the CTO concern given that it will rarely be retrieved. Cloud storage will need to be a part of their new upgrade solution but with a partnership with EMC, the Celtics’ won’t have a problem bringing together a better resolution.

http://searchstorage.techtarget.com/news/2240227007/Boston-Celtics-IT-takes-a-shot-at-scale-out-digital-video-storage

http://www.emc.com/domains/isilon/index.htm

Is the Galaxy S5 a rush to upgrade?

The new Samsung Galaxy S5 has been defined by the word evolution. It is a great upgrade from the Galaxy S4 but it is not a revolutionary change to Samsung Galaxy phones. The spec sheet without a doubt doesn't let down: 16-megapixel camera (with fast auto focusing clearer and faster snaps) a powerful S health app, a 2.5GHz quad core CPU, a stronger 2800mAh battery life, 16/32 GB of memory (upgradable to 128GB with microSD), 1080p 5.1 inch screen, microUSB 3.0, water and dust resistan

t IP67 certification, heart rate sensor and fingerprint scanner. It also includes a tactile back cover that is still plastic but gives a better feel than the S4 design. Samsung designs for the Galaxy phones have been a disappointment over the years.

If you've seen the Galaxy s devices over the last few years you know that it is time for a serious upgrade in the design. The blue and copper color options are more attractive, but still can be beaten out by the appeal of other devices. Designs from competitors like the iPhone and the new HTC One M8 have more of an eye candy physique. When people buy phones the first thing that stands out to them is the design and size. The Samsung Galaxy S5 design is better than the S4 but future Galaxy phones needs to be better to compete with other competitor designs. The fingerprint scanner can be annoying to use and the heart rate sensor is more of a perk that won’t be used by most people.

As stated before the Galaxy S5 is only a small upgrade from the Galaxy S4. The bottom line of this phone is that is has improved specs and it is smartly refined. It is still one of the great super phones that hit every class but design.  Is the Galaxy S5 worth the upgrade?