Evolution of IBM PCs

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Questions and Answers

What was the primary storage option for the original IBM PC in the early 1980s?

Solid-state drive

Hard disk

5-and-1/4-inch floppy drive (correct)

CD-ROM

What is a major challenge when accessing storage over a network?

Upgrading firmware

Maintaining fast access speeds (correct)

Ensuring data encryption

Managing storage capacity

What is the primary reason local hard disks were important in early computers?

For enhancing graphical performance

For providing input/output functionality

For supporting the CPU and memory (correct)

For storing the operating system

What has driven the shift from locally attached storage to network-attached storage in data centers?

Growing need for modular and current technologies Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for storage devices that are directly connected to a computer?

Directly attached storage Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of network architectures for storage?

To minimize network latency Signup and view all the answers

What type of devices are often used to provide network-attached storage in data centers?

Storage area networks Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the physical hardware that runs a hypervisor and supports virtual machines?

Hosts Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary benefit of accessing storage over a network in a virtualized environment?

Easier virtual machine migration Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of vSAN in a virtualized environment?

To enable access to shared storage Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary advantage of Fibre Channel over Ethernet?

Higher speed Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of using Fibre Channel over Ethernet?

To enable high-speed storage access without proprietary hardware Signup and view all the answers

Why is it beneficial to have a separate network for storage access?

To ensure dedicated bandwidth for storage access Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of iSCSI in a virtualized environment?

To allow hosts to access storage over an IP network Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of SCSI in iSCSI?

It's a set of commands for communicating with storage devices Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary benefit of using multiple network adapters for storage access?

High availability and fault tolerance Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary advantage of using a dedicated storage network?

Reduced network congestion Signup and view all the answers

Why is it beneficial to use a separate network for virtual machine traffic?

To reduce network congestion with storage traffic Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for using a software-based iSCSI adapter over an Ethernet network?

To leverage the same commands used for local device access Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of vCenter in a VMware environment?

To manage multiple ESXi hosts Signup and view all the answers

What type of storage is accessed over a network using iSCSI?

Block-based storage Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of segmenting a network for storage access?

To improve storage reliability Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between SAN and NAS?

SAN is block-based, while NAS is file-based Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of NFS in a NAS environment?

To provide a file system for network attached storage Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of using Fibre Channel over Ethernet?

It leverages existing Ethernet technologies Signup and view all the answers

What is the main advantage of using a virtual local area network (VLAN) for storage access?

It separates storage traffic from other network traffic Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of block-based storage?

Devices access storage block by block Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between iSCSI and NAS?

iSCSI is block-based, while NAS is file-based Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Storage Evolution

In the early 1980s, the IBM PC did not have a hard disk as an option; it used 5.25-inch floppy drives for storage
Later, IBM XT and subsequent models included hard drives as an option
Initially, hard disks were directly attached to computers, which made sense for local storage

Network-Attached Storage

As technology advanced, storage shifted from local to network-attached storage, enabling organizations to adopt a more sustainable and efficient approach to data management. This transition eliminated the need for individual devices to store data, instead, utilizing a centralized storage solution.
This change was driven by the need for modular and current technologies, especially in data centers, where the sheer volume of data required a scalable and reliable storage solution. Network-attached storage allowed for easy accessibility, rapid deployment, and simplified management, making it an attractive option for data centers and large-scale enterprises.
Network-attached storage allows for more flexibility and scalability, enabling organizations to easily increase or decrease storage capacity as needed. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for businesses that experience rapid growth or fluctuating storage demands.

Benefits of Network-Attached Storage

Cloud-based storage solutions, such as virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) and hybrid cloud storage, offer several benefits. Firstly, they enable easy migration of virtual machines between hosts, facilitating seamless transitions and reducing downtime. Additionally, these solutions allow multiple hosts to access the same storage resource over the network, streamlining data sharing and collaboration. Furthermore, they provide a more efficient way of managing storage resources, as data is centralized and easily scalable. This reduces the need for localized storage solutions, minimizing administrative burdens and improving overall infrastructure flexibility.

Fibre Channel

A dedicated network for storage that is high-speed, reliable, and often expensive is designed to meet the demanding requirements of data centers and enterprise-level storage needs. This type of network is typically used in environments where high-performance storage is critical, such as in financial institutions, healthcare organizations, and large enterprise companies.
- Uses proprietary hardware to connect hosts to the Fibre Channel network, ensuring fast data transfer rates and low latency.
- The use of proprietary hardware can, however, limit the flexibility and scalability of the network, as it may not be compatible with other hardware or configurations.
- Can be used with Fibre Channel over Ethernet, which is a more affordable option that allows for the implementation of Fibre Channel networks over existing Ethernet infrastructure.
- This option provides a more cost-effective solution for organizations that still require high-speed storage capabilities, but do not need the extreme performance offered by a dedicated Fibre Channel network.
- Fibre Channel over Ethernet also offers improved compatibility with existing network infrastructure and devices, making it a more adaptable solution for organizations with mixed network environments.

iSCSI

A technology that uses SCSI commands over an IP network to access storage
Allows hosts to access storage over an Ethernet network using software-based iSCSI adapters
Example of a Storage Area Network (SAN), which is block-based storage

Storage Area Network (SAN)

A network dedicated to storage, where multiple devices access storage blocks at a time
Requires cooperation between devices to avoid writing on top of each other
Can leverage existing Ethernet infrastructure and carve off a separate network for storage using Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs)

Network Attached Storage (NAS)

A file-based storage system, unlike SAN which is block-based
Devices access storage file by file, rather than block by block
Example of NAS protocol is Network File System (NFS)

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Description

Learn about the development of IBM PCs, from floppy drives to hard disks, and the journey from IBM XT to 386 and PS/2s.