Back to: Storage Area Network (SAN) Storage
Storage Area Network (SAN) topologies define how storage devices, hosts, and switches are interconnected to ensure efficient data transfer, scalability, and redundancy. The three primary SAN topologies are:
1️⃣ Point-to-Point Topology
- Structure: A direct connection between a single host and a single storage device.
- Pros:
- Simple and easy to configure.
- High performance due to a dedicated connection.
- Cons:
- Limited scalability (one-to-one connection).
- No redundancy—single point of failure.
2️⃣ Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL) Topology
- Structure: Devices are connected in a loop (ring-like) configuration, either directly or through a hub.
- Pros:
- Cost-effective compared to switched fabrics.
- Can support multiple devices in a shared bandwidth setup.
- Cons:
- Performance bottlenecks since all devices share the same bandwidth.
- A single device failure or disconnection can disrupt the entire loop.
3️⃣ Switched Fabric Topology (Most Common in Modern SANs)
- Structure: Uses Fibre Channel switches to interconnect multiple hosts and storage devices dynamically.
- Pros:
- High scalability—easy to add more devices.
- High availability with multiple redundant paths.
- Better performance due to dedicated communication paths.
- Cons:
- More expensive than FC-AL.
- Requires complex configuration and management.