How servers, storage and network work together
Servers run the applications, storage keeps the data, and the network joins them. There are six common ways to connect them. Each needs its own adapters, switches, optics and cables, and the speeds have to match end to end. Pick the way you connect, or open any model or part: its page has a Works together section listing what it connects to.
Fibre Channel SANServer → FC switch → Storage array173 models and partsiSCSI and NVMe/TCP over EthernetServer → Ethernet switch → Storage array210 models and partsDirect-attached SASServer → SAS cable → Array or JBOD141 models and partsFile storage (NFS and SMB)Server or client → Ethernet switch → NAS or scale-out205 models and partsHyperconverged clusterHCI node → Two Ethernet switches → More HCI nodes57 models and partsGPU cluster fabricGPU server → InfiniBand or RoCE switch → Storage and other GPU servers37 models and parts
Which one fits?
| Setup | Best for | Needs a switch | Adapter in the server |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fibre Channel SAN | Databases and large virtual farms that want isolated, predictable block storage | FC switches, two fabrics | FC HBA |
| iSCSI or NVMe/TCP | Block storage on the Ethernet you already run | Ethernet switches | 10/25/100GbE NIC |
| Direct-attached SAS | Two to four hosts, backup targets, JBOD and tape | No | External SAS HBA |
| NAS (NFS, SMB) | Shared files, home folders, VMware NFS datastores, media | Ethernet switches | Ethernet NIC |
| Hyperconverged | Virtual machines without a separate array | Ethernet switches, 25GbE or faster | Ethernet NIC |
| GPU fabric | AI training clusters | InfiniBand or RoCE switches | 200/400G NIC per GPU |
Plan it with our sister tools
- Draw this setup in the topology planner mrplanb.com
- Add up rack power and space rack-density.com
- Device power and spec database rack-density.com
- UPS runtime calculator rack-density.com
- Tokens per kWh calculator for GPU racks rack-density.com
- Virtualization storage Ledger: scored storage platforms mrplanb.com
- Hypervisor advisor: which platform fits you mrplanb.com
- Enterprise backup Ledger: backup software scored mrplanb.com
- LTO tape prices and archive advisor tapebackup.org
- What an hour of downtime costs outagecost.org
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