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Disk array
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<p>A disk array is a <a href="/facts/Disk_storage/hnsXRb5X">disk storage</a> system which contains multiple disk drives. It is differentiated from a <a href="/facts/Disk_enclosure/njVoqBh6">disk enclosure</a>, in that an array has <a href="/facts/Cache_(computing)/gmJYN8wm">cache</a> memory and advanced functionality, like <a href="/facts/Redundant_array_of_independent_disks/IpzWWgog">RAID</a>, <a href="/facts/Data_deduplication/sHuJ8zya">deduplication</a>, <a href="/facts/Encryption/16q29Fdv">encryption</a> and <a href="/facts/Storage_virtualization/59AlfJSY">virtualization</a>. </p><p>Components of a disk array include: </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Disk_array_controller/XcbylFek">Disk array controllers</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Cache_(computing)/gmJYN8wm">Cache</a> in form of both volatile <a href="/facts/Random-access_memory/DuD4bxh6">random-access memory</a> and <a href="/facts/Non-volatile_memory/EN72wMD9">non-volatile</a> <a href="/facts/Flash_memory/Cn8JsStx">flash memory</a>.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Disk_enclosure/njVoqBh6">Disk enclosures</a> for both <a href="/facts/Magnetic_storage/QaK6oArm">magnetic</a> rotational <a href="/facts/Hard_disk_drive/kekLSGSE">hard disk drives</a> and electronic <a href="/facts/Solid-state_drive/aMHBy8gU">solid-state drives</a>.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Power_supply/4A8zBRHn">Power supplies</a></li></ul> <p>Typically a disk array provides increased availability, resiliency, and maintainability by using additional redundant components (controllers, power supplies, fans, etc.), often up to the point where all <a href="/facts/Single_point_of_failure/royNGgjd">single points of failure</a> (SPOFs) are eliminated from the design. Additionally, disk array components are often <a href="/facts/Hot_swapping/Jn56Jw3h">hot-swappable</a>. </p><p>Traditionally disk arrays were divided into categories: </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Network_attached_storage/ABVjy8Tn">Network attached storage</a> (NAS) arrays</li> <li><a href="/facts/Storage_area_network/e7bmhrmB">Storage area network</a> (SAN) arrays: <ul><li>Modular SAN arrays</li> <li>Monolithic SAN arrays</li> <li>Utility Storage Arrays</li></ul></li> <li><a href="/facts/Storage_virtualization/59AlfJSY">Storage virtualization</a></li></ul> <p>Primary vendors of storage systems include <a href="/facts/Coraid%2c_Inc./vKGTcEGr">Coraid, Inc.</a>, <a href="/facts/DataDirect_Networks/4ozJPDmE">DataDirect Networks</a>, <a href="/facts/Dell_EMC/yYovmS66">Dell EMC</a>, <a href="/facts/Fujitsu/6e5gvNSa">Fujitsu</a>, <a href="/facts/Hewlett_Packard_Enterprise/d9NbClDt">Hewlett Packard Enterprise</a>, <a href="/facts/Hitachi_Data_Systems/qYvQecjX">Hitachi Data Systems</a>, <a href="/facts/Huawei/Qwu0tbnL">Huawei</a>, <a href="/facts/IBM/QszA7nwd">IBM</a>, <a href="/facts/Infortrend/8NfoYgXT">Infortrend</a>, <a href="/facts/NetApp/tmNFS1pG">NetApp</a>, <a href="/facts/Oracle_Corporation/0z14FygH">Oracle Corporation</a>, <a href="/facts/Panasas/bBNtTUsr">Panasas</a>, <a href="/facts/Pure_Storage/RJUfXRaw">Pure Storage</a> and other companies that often act as <a href="/facts/OEM/hmUhIWaS">OEM</a> for the above vendors and do not themselves market the storage components they manufacture. </p>