A SAN (storage access network) design and construction services firm can help you by installing a SAN in your place of business. This guide will show you what to look out for. Installing a SAN is a worthwhile investment, especially if you’re a company that runs an enterprise network or does a lot of video editing.

SAN enables you to connect remote hardware devices such as disk arrays or tape libraries to your servers. Your operating system, however, will think these devices are locally attached. The SAN network uses a high-speed network because it demands a lot of bandwidth. Consider the following factors:

1. Hire a SAN design and construction services company for availability.
2. Hire a SAN construction services for scalability.
3. Hire storage area network design services for performance.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Hire a reputable SAN design and construction services firm

It's important you hire a SAN design services firm that will implement your plan according to your business requirements. You must make sure the SAN design service company keeps your SAN simple, allows room for growth, and that its performance is excellent. The SAN construction services company should think ahead, but allow flexibility in your network. SANs will allow you to add new network devices, including servers and storage devices.

I recommend: Look at Nth Generation Computing Inc. It is a full-service engineering firm that designs and deploys SANs. Seven Group is another SANs designing and construction company. If you need a company to manage your infrastructure, Seven Group also can provide this service.

Purchase and use storage area network management tools

You'll want to use popular storage area network management applications. You'll be using the storage area networking software to manage your critical applications and SAN performance. The application enables you to get a handle on your servers or other issues like power outages. Your storage area network design services company should consult with you and give you a list of applications of what they can do. You might even have the storage area network construction services company perform a demonstration of these applications.

I recommend: Check out IBM’s TotalStorage. TotalStorage enables to manage your critical applications, servers, and storage space. You should also look at Hitachi. Hitachi has a simple solution tool that allows you to use Plug and Play kits to better manage your SANs.

Purchase from only well-known storage area network providers

Chances are your storage area network construction services company has a partnership with leading storage area network providers. The SAN design services and construction firm will recommend the best ones and why they'll be able to fill your needs. When you consider storage area network providers, take into account how long they've been in business, their warranties on the products, and their technical support.

I recommend: Look at EMC. It is a leader in storage market. EMC ranks up as one of the 10 most valuable technology companies in the country. Hewlett-Packard also has solutions and products for SANs that you will find useful. Hewlett-Packard uses iSCSI products for SANs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Keep all of your SANs designs in an electronic format. That way, you'll be able to refer to them when you have to upgrade or expand your SANs.