SAN (Storage Area Network)
Also known as: Storage Area Network, SAN storage
A SAN (Storage Area Network) is a dedicated network, typically Fibre Channel or iSCSI, that connects servers to shared block-level storage, so multiple hosts can access the same underlying storage pool as if it were a local disk. This is distinct from a NAS (Network Attached Storage), which serves file-level storage over a standard Ethernet network. IBM FlashSystem, Dell PowerStore, and HPE Alletra/Primera are all SAN-capable enterprise storage platforms, meaning they present block storage over Fibre Channel or iSCSI to connected servers rather than acting as a file share. When a reseller is quoting SAN storage, the conversation should cover fabric type (Fibre Channel vs. iSCSI), host connectivity requirements, and whether the workload actually needs SAN-level performance and multi-host access, or whether simpler NAS or direct-attached storage would meet the requirement at lower cost.