Storage Area Network (SAN)

Monash University 's Storage Area Network provides the capability of a large scale and higher performance enterprise storage for central applications. With a faster, more reliable and secure state of the art network, the SAN has been designed to:

• handle storage communications,
• support central backup service,
• enable more effective disaster recovery processes and
• increase storage capacity utilisation.

Therefore, faculties and departments will be provided with fast and reliable access to their information.

ITS Network Infrastructure Services (NIS) provides the network in supporting the provision of central storage at the central server locations. This consists of:

• Incorporating a SAN network, which compliments the main data network infrastructure, making it resilient, scalable and redundant

• A network which enables high availability and efficient data transfer for access to storage devices (tapes, disks etc)

• A robust high speed resilient switching environment consisting of the SAN infrastructure

• The network supporting 112 ports of the 2G bit/s fibre channel

Diagram of the SAN infrastructure

As the University moves towards requiring higher level of performance and a more reliable Storage Area Network, this technology may expand to cover off-campus and inter-institutions. Higher demand for the service will have a logical flow in progressively expanding the service.

For further information, please see:

Data Storage Management

ITS Data Storage Management policy

Data Storage Management services