Storage architecture

Definitions about storage and data management including backup/recovery vocabulary, business intelligence terminology, storage area networks and database management.
  • utility storage - Utility storage is a service model in which a provider makes storage capacity available to an individual, organization or business unit on a pay-per-use basis.
  • value chain - A value chain is a concept describing the full chain of a business's activities in creating a product or service -- from initial receipt of materials through its delivery to market.
  • vector search - Vector search, sometimes referred to as vector similarity search, is a technique that uses vectors -- numerical representations of data -- as the basis to conduct searches and identify relevance.
  • virtual disaster recovery - Virtual disaster recovery is a type of DR that typically involves replication and enables a user to fail over to virtualized workloads.
  • virtual LUN (virtual logical unit number) - A virtual LUN (virtual logical unit number) is a representation of a storage area that is not tied to any physical storage allocation.
  • volatile memory - Volatile memory is a type of memory that maintains its data only while the device is powered.
  • Western Digital Corporation (WDC) - Western Digital Corporation (often referred to as WDC, Western Digital) is a data storage device manufacturer founded in 1970 and headquartered in San Jose, Calif.
  • What is a cloud server? - A cloud server is a virtual server that operates in a cloud computing environment and makes its resources accessible to users remotely over a network.
  • What is a CompactFlash card (CF card)? - A CompactFlash card (CF card) is a memory card format developed by SanDisk in 1994 that uses flash memory technology to store data on a very small portable device.
  • What is a data mart (datamart)? - A data mart is a repository of data that is designed to serve a particular community of knowledge workers.
  • What is a SAN? Ultimate storage area network guide - A storage area network (SAN) is a dedicated high-speed network or subnetwork that interconnects and presents shared pools of storage devices to multiple servers.
  • What is an embedded MultiMediaCard (eMMC)? - An embedded MultiMediaCard (eMMC) is a small storage device made up of NAND flash memory and a storage controller.
  • What is an NVDIMM (non-volatile dual in-line memory module)? - An NVDIMM (non-volatile dual in-line memory module) is hybrid computer memory that retains data during a service outage.
  • What is bit rot? - Bit rot is the slow deterioration in the performance and integrity of data stored on storage media.
  • What is Ceph? - Ceph is an open source software solution that provides a unified system for enterprise-level object, block- and file-based storage.
  • What is cloud management? Definition, benefits and guide - Cloud management refers to the exercise of control over public, private or hybrid cloud infrastructure resources and services.
  • What is continuous data protection (CDP)? - Continuous data protection (CDP), also known as 'continuous backup,' is a backup and recovery storage system in which all the data in an enterprise is backed up whenever any change is made.
  • What is Dell EMC? - Dell EMC is an American multinational technology company that offers products and services across all areas of computing, networking and storage.
  • What is FTP? - File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a network protocol for transmitting files between computers over TCP/IP connections.
  • What is high availability (HA)? Definition and guide - High availability (HA) is the ability of a system to operate continuously for a designated period of time even if components within the system fail.
  • What is network-attached storage (NAS)? A complete guide - Network-attached storage (NAS) is dedicated file storage that enables multiple users and heterogeneous client devices to retrieve data from centralized disk capacity.
  • What is NVMe over Fibre Channel (NVMe over FC)? Definition and Guide - Non-volatile memory express over Fibre Channel (NVMe over FC) is a technology specification designed to enable NVMe-based message commands to transfer data and status information between a host computer and a target storage subsystem over a Fibre Channel network fabric.
  • What is parity in computing? - In computers, parity (from the Latin paritas, meaning "equal or equivalent") is a technique that checks whether data has been lost or written over when it is moved from one place in storage to another or when it is transmitted between computers.
  • What is pay-as-you-go cloud computing (PAYG cloud computing)? - Pay-as-you-go cloud computing, or PAYG cloud computing, is a payment method for cloud computing that charges based on usage.
  • What is SRAM (static random access memory)? - SRAM (static RAM) is a type of random access memory (RAM) that retains data bits in its memory as long as power is being supplied.
  • What is SSD RAID (solid-state drive RAID)? - SSD RAID (solid-state drive RAID) is a methodology commonly used to protect data by distributing redundant data blocks across multiple SSDs.
  • What is TCP/IP? - TCP/IP stands for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol and is a suite of communication protocols used to interconnect network devices on the internet.
  • What is U.2 SSD (formerly SFF-8639)? - A U.2 SSD is a high-performance data storage device designed to support the Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) interface using a small form factor (SFF) connector that is also compatible with standard SAS and SATA-based spinning disks and solid-state drives (SSDs).
  • What is wear leveling? - Wear leveling is a process that is designed to extend the life of solid-state storage devices.
  • Windows Server Failover Clustering (WSFC) - Windows Server Failover Clustering (WSFC) enables several computers to host a service, and if one has a fault, the remaining computers automatically take over the hosting of the service.
  • World Wide Name (WWN) - A World Wide Name (WWN) is a unique identifier that is hard-coded into each Fibre Channel (FC) device by the device's manufacturer.
  • write amplification factor (WAF) - Write amplification factor (WAF) is a numerical value that represents the amount of data a solid-state drive (SSD) controller writes in relation to the amount of data that the host's flash controller writes.
  • write endurance - Write endurance is the number of program/erase (P/E) cycles that can be applied to a block of flash memory before the storage media becomes unreliable.
  • zebibyte (ZiB) - A zebibyte (ZiB) is a unit used to measure computing and storage capacity.