LAN-free backup explained

A LAN-free backup is a backup of server data to a shared, central storage device without sending the data over the local area network (LAN). It is usually achieved by using a storage area network (SAN).^[1]

Note that trivial backup to a dedicated, unshared storage device (such as local tape drive) does not meet the definition.

Technical aspects

The goal of LAN-free backup is to reduce the load on LAN and reduce the time it takes to complete the backup. It offers an alternative way of backup than a simple data copy to network-attached storage (NAS) over LAN.

It comes in different flavours:

• with backup server: in addition to a shared storage device (usually a traditional tape library), there exists a central server arbitrating access to device (for all the other SAN servers). The central server however, does not handle data stream itself.
• without backup server: the storage facility (usually a virtual tape library, or VTL) is smart enough to handle multiple data accesses without intermediate component.

See also

• Data backup
• Storage area network
• Network-attached storage
• Fiber Channel technology

External links

• Description of Lan-Free Client Data Transfer Operation
• IBM Tivoli Storage Manager: LAN/WAN Backup; ServerFree Backup; LANFree Backup; and Split-Mirror Backup - What Does It All Mean?

Notes and References

1. Book: Preston, W. Curtis . Backup & Recovery: Inexpensive Backup Solutions for Open Systems . 2007-01-03 . . 978-0-596-55504-7 . 210–212 . en.