Special Edition Using Storage Area Networks

Rating:
Summary: Lacking Detail
Review: I was expecting more comprehensive coverage in this series, but instead it was a very high-level overview only. If you need hard-core, hands-on implementation information, skip this book. Lacks coverage of multipe vendor's products. Lacks standards information. Also, only covers SANs and bypasses any attached storage discussion. 600 pages of overview. No specific information.

Rating:
Summary: I expected it should be better...
Review: In Special Edition Using Storage Area Networks does not give us clear examples how to use SANs. Also, it just mentioned the companies have such storage hardware and software but didn't point out which companies' products and how to we could use them.
After reading the book, you may get the sense about SANs but not practical. If you are looking for some book to help you to setup SANs, definely you should go to others.

Rating:
Summary: Simple, beginner's guide
Review: The initial chapters on Evolution of SAN, description of different Storage interfaces - information about IDE, SSA, SCSI, HIPPI, and their comparisons is good.
One of the things that i really liked was the information provided in the TIPs and the NOTES sections and the simplicity of the content.
Information about the Products Arena is limited.
Case studies are ok- they not only tell you why you need to go in for a SAN, but also give sample SAN implementation scenarios.
It is a good book for a person who does not have much idea about
Fibre channel and storage, and is a good starting point for getting inputs on designing a SAN, but cannot be treated as a bible for a SAN architect.

Rating:
Summary: Simple, beginner's guide
Review: The initial chapters on Evolution of SAN, description of different Storage interfaces - information about IDE, SSA, SCSI, HIPPI, and their comparisons is good.
One of the things that i really liked was the information provided in the TIPs and the NOTES sections and the simplicity of the content.
Information about the Products Arena is limited.
Case studies are ok- they not only tell you why you need to go in for a SAN, but also give sample SAN implementation scenarios.
It is a good book for a person who does not have much idea about
Fibre channel and storage, and is a good starting point for getting inputs on designing a SAN, but cannot be treated as a bible for a SAN architect.

Rating:
Summary: A simple book!
Review: This book gives an amazingly simple view of SAN. It presents SAN from a perspective of a beginner and takes you through the design side of SAN. It has a nice section at the end of each chapter, which talks about different products from different companies. So you will know where to go to buy stuff. On the whole I liked this book for its inherent simplicity.

Rating:
Summary: Good Overview
Review: This book provides a good overall look at Storage Area Networks (SAN's) and the various items that make up a SAN. Examples of SAN's in use are also provided. Each chapter describes a various facet of SAN's and lists specific products at the end of each chapter. Another useful feature of this book is its "referrals" to specific terms and their descriptions in other parts of the book.

The first chapter provides an introduction to the concept of SAN's and the factors to be considered for a data storage system, along with brief descriptions of Network Attached Storage (NAS) and SAN's. The next chapter describes the various "components" of a SAN, including SAN "fabrics" and servers. There's also a detailed description of Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disk Drives (RAID), which is an important aspect of any kind of data storage. Subsequent chapters decribe topics like interfaces, network interconnects (like modems, routers, and switches), fibre channels, designing and implementing your own SAN and what factors you should consider before doing this, and finally managing your SAN and what the future holds for them.

All in all, some excellent information is provided here for those considering whether or not to start a SAN, if they haven't done so already.