Data Storage and Cloud Computing - Practice Flashcards

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering data storage types (DAS, NAS, SAN, SDS), RAID configurations, and cloud computing service models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) based on lecture notes.

Data Storage

Refers to magnetic, optical or mechanical media that records and preserves digital information for ongoing or future operations.

Direct Attached Storage (DAS)

Systems where the server or computer is directly connected to the storage device without a network device such as a router, switch or hub.

Internal DAS

A storage device physically located within the server by a serial or parallel bus, making it available only to the composing host server.

External DAS

Storage devices directly connected to the server without a network device, but not located within the body of the server, allowing for sharing between multiple servers.

Host Bus Adapter (HBA)

The interface that connects a physical storage device to a server.

Fibre Channel (FC)

A protocol used to connect servers to external storage devices, typically in SAN or external DAS environments.

Network Attached Storage (NAS)

Storage devices connected to servers using a network device via a wired or wireless connector, allowing multiple servers to interact simultaneously.

Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID)

A virtualization technique that combines multiple physical storage devices into one or more logical storage devices for data replication or improved performance.

Disk Mirroring

A RAID achieved through data replication where data written to one device is automatically backed-up on another to improve reliability and fault tolerance.

Disk Striping

A RAID technique that divides data into blocks and stores them across multiple physical disks to allow parallelism and overcome physical speed limitations.

Storage Area Network (SAN)

A high-speed, purpose-built network that allows multiple servers to share multiple arrays of storage devices via FC or iSCSI.

iSCSI

An IP-based storage networking standard used for linking data storage facilities, often used in Storage Area Networks (SAN).

Software Defined Storage (SDS)

A storage architecture that decouples storage software from the underlying hardware, providing a programmable layer accessible via an API.

Storage Virtualization

A technology that combines the capacity of multiple networked storage devices into a single centrally managed logical storage unit, abstracting physical hardware from the server.

Cloud Computing

A technology providing on-demand computing services, such as databases, computing servers, and data processing pipelines, to service providers via the internet.

Public Cloud

Cloud hardware and services provided by a third party (e.g., AWS, Microsoft Azure) and maintained by the cloud provider for use by multiple businesses.

Private Cloud

Computing resources used exclusively by one entity, often physically located at the entity's facility.

Hybrid Cloud

A cloud architecture that allows data and applications to be shared between public and private cloud environments.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

A cloud service model where IT infrastructure like servers and virtual machines is provided by the provider and managed by the user with complete control.

Platform as a Service (PaaS)

A cloud service model where the provider handles IT infrastructure management while the user manages the business application and its data.

Software as a Service (SaaS)

A model providing fully functional software accessed via subscription (e.g., Microsoft Office 365), where the provider manages all infrastructure and maintenance.