SAN
A SAN (Storage Area Network) is a special type of network that large companies use to store and manage their important data. Think of it like a very sophisticated digital filing system that many computers can access at once. Instead of having storage directly attached to each computer, a SAN provides a central pool of storage that can be shared, making it easier to manage large amounts of data and keep it safe. This is particularly important for businesses that handle lots of information, like banks, hospitals, or large corporations.
Examples in Resumes
Managed and maintained SAN infrastructure supporting 500+ users
Implemented new Storage Area Network solution reducing storage costs by 30%
Configured SAN storage systems for disaster recovery and backup
Upgraded SAN capacity from 10TB to 50TB to support business growth
Typical job title: "Storage Engineers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Storage Engineers
Professional Networks
Online Forums
Job Boards
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you plan a large-scale SAN migration with minimal downtime?
Expected Answer: A senior candidate should explain the steps of planning, including assessment of current storage, backup strategies, scheduling maintenance windows, and having a rollback plan if needed. They should mention communication with stakeholders and risk management.
Q: How do you approach capacity planning for a growing organization?
Expected Answer: Look for answers about analyzing current usage patterns, growth trends, budgeting considerations, and implementing monitoring tools to predict future needs. They should mention both short-term and long-term planning strategies.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What steps would you take to troubleshoot slow performance on a SAN?
Expected Answer: The candidate should discuss checking network connectivity, monitoring disk usage, reviewing system logs, and using monitoring tools to identify bottlenecks. They should mention the importance of baseline performance metrics.
Q: Explain how you would set up basic disaster recovery for a SAN?
Expected Answer: Should discuss backup procedures, replication options, testing recovery procedures, and maintaining documentation. They should mention the importance of regular testing and verification.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is the difference between NAS and SAN?
Expected Answer: Should explain that SAN provides block-level storage access like a direct-attached disk, while NAS provides file-level storage over a regular network. The explanation should be basic but show understanding of fundamental differences.
Q: What basic maintenance tasks do you perform on a SAN?
Expected Answer: Should mention monitoring space usage, checking system logs, performing basic backups, and updating firmware when needed. Basic understanding of routine maintenance is important.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic storage management tasks
- Monitoring storage capacity
- Simple troubleshooting
- Basic backup operations
Mid (2-5 years)
- Performance optimization
- Disaster recovery implementation
- Storage provisioning
- Troubleshooting complex issues
Senior (5+ years)
- Storage architecture design
- Capacity planning
- Migration project management
- Disaster recovery planning
Red Flags to Watch For
- No understanding of basic storage concepts
- Lack of experience with any enterprise storage systems
- No knowledge of backup and recovery procedures
- Unable to explain basic troubleshooting steps
- No familiarity with storage monitoring tools
