What Is Storage Area Network Management (SAN Management)?

SAN monitoring tools are a big deal. They're the kind of thing that keeps you from buying a new shirt or ending up in Guardhouse. You see, SAN monitoring tools are strategically situated relative to servers and hardware to provide specific kinds of access to the network. They aid in monitoring storage area networks (SANs), where specific storage hardware is linked to a server or consolidated into a single operating network. SAN monitoring tools help users to monitor these networks and troubleshoot problems or perform diagnostic work. We've all been there: it's the middle of the night, and you're trying to sleep. Then you hear a noise like a thousand angry bees. You panic—and then realize that it's just the sound of your SAN monitoring tool telling you everything is okay. San monitoring tools are great for many things, but one of the best things about them is how easily they monitor all aspects of your SAN. Many SAN monitoring tools provide easy-to-use digital displays that present information about the network, such as device configuration, performance status and how data is routed throughout the network. These tools may copy storage area network traffic and send this information to a database where users can evaluate activity throughout the "fabric" of a storage area network. It allows administrators to quickly identify problems with distributed resources like databases or virtual machines running on different servers within an enterprise's infrastructure. SAN monitoring tools can help diagnose and troubleshoot issues, but they may offer a different level of detail than you get from a Cisco product. Some SAN monitoring resources have specific features that help with advanced diagnosis and troubleshooting, while others might provide detailed information on port activity or errors that occur within a network. It all depends on what you need.