More articles by Mike Harwood

If you manage a storage network, it's your responsibility to ensure that data is secure regardless of its location. In the second part of our series on Storage Security, we help you devise a strategy.

In the first part of a series on storage security, we examine the fundamental concepts for securing storage area networks.

On-demand, utility computing, outsourcing ... you've heard the buzzwords, but now get the real story on the pros and cons of signing on with a storage service provider.

Companies looking to keep storage costs down might want to consider refurbished SAN equipment or utility storage.

In the second part of our examination of IPSec, Mike Harwood discusses how to secure communications using IPSec in a Windows 2003 Server environment.

With the promise of a single, interoperable interface for managing storage devices and networks, the Storage Management Initiative Specification seems destined to simplify storage management. In our latest Storage Basics feature, Mike Harwood delves into the specification and looks at how SMI-S can benefit both end users and vendors alike.

IP-based SANs are attractive alternatives to their more expensive and complex Fibre Channel counterparts, but securing IP communications remains a significant concern. In our latest Storage Basics article, Mike Harwood examines how the IP Security Protocol (IPSec) can ensure the security of your iSCSI storage network's data.

ILM is being touted as a solution for managing the ever-changing value of data and maximizing the accessibility of that data at the lowest total cost, but what exactly does an ILM strategy entail, and what does it mean for storage in today's organizations?

The storage industry is rife with so many acronyms it's almost impossible to keep on top of them all. Our new Storage Basics series adds one of its own while uncovering the mystery behind many others. Part 2 of the SESAs series looks at IB (InfiniBand), FSPF, VI, and DAFS.

The storage industry is rife with so many acronyms it's almost impossible to keep on top of them all. Our Storage Basics series adds one of its own while uncovering the mystery behind many others. Part 1 of the SESAs series looks at FCIP, iFCP, SoIP, NDMP, and SMI-S.

Against a backdrop of ever-growing data storage needs and a continually shrinking window for performing backups, Mike Harwood explores some of the strategies that can be employed in backing up large amounts of data, with a specific look at how LAN-free and server-free backup alternatives can be used to circumvent the backup window issue.

Against a backdrop of ever-growing data storage needs and a continually shrinking window for performing backups, Mike Harwood explores some of the strategies that can be employed in backing up large amounts of data.

With cable forming such a critical part of the network infrastructure, it's important to understand what types of cables are used for connecting Fibre Channel devices to a SAN. In the second part of a two-article series, Mike Harwood takes an in-depth look at fiber optics and discusses why fiber cabling has become the media of choice for SANs.

With cables constituting such a critical part of the network infrastructure, it's important to understand the types of cabling used for connecting Fibre Channel devices to a SAN. In the first part of a two-article series highlighting Fibre Channel cables and connectors, Mike Harwood takes a look at copper-based cables and connectors and discusses why copper has given way to fiber as the media of choice when building SANs.

Not all Fibre Channel hubs are created equal, and using the right one for a particular storage area network is an important consideration. In his latest Storage Basics article, Mike Harwood covers the various types of hubs available and examines how they stack up against switches in practical application.

In the first part of our two-part look at Fibre Channel, we covered some of the reasons that Fibre Channel has become popular as well as the standards and market challenges facing Fibre Channel. In this second part we look at implementation considerations such as topologies, switches, and port types.

In the second article of our new Storage Basics series, Mike Harwood unravels some of the mysteries and complexities of the Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI), focusing on implementation considerations such as signaling, termination and connector types.