Storage arrays are just powerful computers which have large quantities of storage connected to them (given there is often some custom hardware in there). Storage arrays are configured in such a manner they can present storage to multiple servers, typically within a dedicated network. These programs can either use fiber channel or iSCSI in order to present the storage from the storage to your server. These storage arrays may run normal functioning systems on them as Windows or Linux or other more custom OSs like Cisco's SAN-OS or even FreeNAS. Older storage arrays did not have quite powerful storage authentication safety or auditing capabilities built into them. Due to this it's highly suggested that the software which runs the storage array be kept up to date with the most recent versions which are supported on the hardware stage. This will provide the greatest possible level of authentication by introducing more enhanced security processes into the storage arrays. This includes multiple storage admin functions allowing for logins which have minimal rights into the array for example read only rights, or security administrator rights where users just have the right to handle security but not the actual storage array itself. While the storage arrays may run conventional operating systems on them, keeping this functioning systems completely patched together with the OS provided patches is typically not recommended. This since the storage vendor does not test every patch from their hardware. The only patches that ought to be set up on the storage array should be patches that have been approved by the storage array vendor. Typically the storage array vendor would publish the list of patches that can be set up via their website or bulletins which the vendor sends out. Because of this it is recommended that the Ethernet ports which host the management of the storage range be configured independently on their own VLAN with access to connect to these ports limited to only the individual who must manage the equipment and only via the specially needed network ports. Most storage arrays are presenting integration characteristics between the VMware vCenter server in virtualization environments that use the VMware platform. While every storage array may need different TCP ports open between the administrators and the storage array typically the storage array communication is done over TCP ports 80 (http), 443 (https) and/or 22 (sh). Check with your own storage array vendor to find out exactly which network interfaces are needed to be opened for this software to be expected. In a data economy driven by the proliferation of e-commerce and we-media platforms, retail, logistics, financial and gaming industries, USI’s storage solutions are tailored to encourage rapid data analysis, real-time responses via hot data nodes, multimedia streaming, content distribution, big data cloud storage, database applications in addition to power and space considerations.
