CompTIA Cloud+ Practice Test

Which of the following generally has better performance when accessing larger databases?

1. NAS

2. SAN

3. CIFS

4. NFS

The correct answer is: SAN

The choice of SAN (Storage Area Network) is often recognized for its superior performance when accessing larger databases due to several key characteristics. SANs are specifically designed to handle high-speed data transfers and are optimized for storage performance. A SAN typically utilizes a dedicated high-speed network that connects servers directly to external storage devices. This setup allows for efficient data access and reduces the latency that might be encountered in other systems not optimized for heavy data loads. The architecture of a SAN supports multiple simultaneous connections, which is crucial when multiple servers need to access a large database concurrently. Furthermore, SANs can use advanced storage technologies such as Fibre Channel, which provides high throughput and low latency, making them ideal for database applications that require rapid read and write operations. This capability makes SANs the preferred option in enterprise environments, especially for applications requiring fast access to large amounts of data, such as databases. In contrast, NAS (Network Attached Storage) often utilizes standard network protocols, which can introduce more latency compared to the dedicated architecture of a SAN. CIFS (Common Internet File System) and NFS (Network File System) are protocols that serve file-sharing needs rather than block-level storage access, making them less suitable for performance-intensive database operations. The focus of