SAN Conceptual and Design Basics

VMware ESX Server can be used in conjunction with a SAN (Storage Area Network), a specialized high-speed network that connects computer systems to high performance storage subsystems. Using ESX Server together with a SAN provides extra storage for consolidation, improves reliability, and helps with disaster recovery. To use ESX Server effectively with a SAN, the user is expected to be familiar with the SAN technology. This paper offers a brief introduction to some basic SAN concepts, but doesn't aim to be an exhaustive source of information on SANs.