Oct
22
2009

Understanding the difference between Local Storage, NAS, SAN and Backups

Part of what makes making decisions on web and application hosting a tricky proposition for businesses is the sheer number of options to be considered. This is not only a factor for complex considerations like load balancing and content management solutions; it can make even straightforward items like data storage needlessly complicated. Understanding the purpose and roles of various data storage options can not only help you make better decisions, but it can guide your IT strategy and lead to better solutions for end users and customers. So what are the differences between local storage, NAS/SAN services, and data backups?

When we talk about local storage, we’re referring to disk drives that are physically attached to a computer or server. At minimum, this will contain the operating system and other software needed for the server to perform its desired functions. For companies just beginning to build a web presence, their local storage drives might also contain their web site files, databases, images, and other information, but as the website and applications grow this will cause scalability issues. When this occurs, the solution is to offload data storage from the server. The two technologies that are most common in the industry are NAS (Network Attached Storage) and SAN (Storage Area Networks), approaches that seem similar but server very different purposes.
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May
27
2009

Protecting your data with Managed Services

It’s not just a little ironic that the often quoted Murphy’s Law was coined long before data storage changed from boxes in a warehouse to zeroes and ones on a magnetic disc. Anything that can go wrong will go wrong is a truism in the IT arena. As anyone who has experienced the loss of critical files on a hard drive, memory stick, or even a phone number scrawled on a napkin can tell you- there’s nothing like that feeling in the pit of your stomach when you know the information is well and truly gone.

As maddening as it can be to lose personal data, when it comes to your business it’s a mistake that could be catastrophic. As a result, data backup solutions are a multi-million dollar industry, and to be sure, there are many options to consider. From automated robotic tape rotation machines to software driven RAID disc arrays, there are solutions to fit any scenario. Unfortunately they also share a common weakness: unless your core business actually is data backup, managing your backup solution in house assumes responsibility for a complex process without the human resources it takes to do it correctly. That’s a complicated way of saying if you handle your own backups, chances are you’re going to run into Murphy’s Law, and it won’t be pretty.
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Apr
13
2009

Why NaviSite – Dedicated Hosting – Class Leading Add Ons

When someone thinks about a perfect meal, the dishes vary depending on a person’s particular tastes, but usually most of the same elements are present for all of us- a satisfying main course, with several complimentary side courses. Take the example of a holiday turkey with all the trimmings. The turkey may be the foundation of the meal, but without the stuffing, gravy, vegetables, rolls, pies, and other side dishes, it’s unlikely it would hold such a special place in people’s hearts. This same quality holds true when considering your managed dedicated server host.Like a lonely piece of meat in a meal without any complimentary dishes, a vanilla server with no add on services to maximize value and performance is usually found lacking.
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Mar
30
2009

Lower Your Business Risk with Backup Solutions

“We don’t have a backup.” If you’ve spent any time involved with information technology, those five words inspire a sinking feeling in your stomach, because let’s face it, we’ve all been there. No matter how thorough and detailed your backup plans were, the data you needed didn’t get backed up. And all too often, it’s because of human error, as the great playwright said, “to err is human.”
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