SAN (System Area Network) (Linktionary term)

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A SAN (system area network) is a relatively local network designed for high-speed interconnection in cluster environments (server to server), multiprocessing systems (processor to processor), and SANs (storage area networks). The architecture is now almost exclusively switched fabric. Fibre Channel is an example of a SAN technology. It provides a high-speed switched environment in which any device on the network can connect with any other device and communicate over a dedicated high-speed link. InfiniBand is another. See “Clustering,” “Switch Fabrics and Bus Design,” and “SANs (Storage Area Networks).”