I. Differences between Ethernet, LAN, and the Internet
The main difference between the three is that Ethernet is a local area network (LAN) that can only connect nearby devices, while the Internet is a wide area network (WAN) that allows us to connect to the United States to get information.
Both are networks used to connect computers, but their scope differs. Ethernet is limited to a certain distance; we can have hundreds or thousands of Ethernet networks. However, the Internet is the largest wide area network; we only have one Internet. Therefore, the Internet can also be considered a network within a network.
The Internet is a massive, international system that connects networks from all over the world—private, public, academic, commercial, and governmental networks—allowing them to share resources. To put it simply, the Internet is the network we use to open web pages, send emails, listen to music online, and watch movies. It encompasses a vast amount of information, and we've become accustomed to it all.
Ethernet, on the other hand, basically only allows a few local computers to connect to each other. The transmission of messages between computers relies on a set of technical support. Generally, computers connected to an Ethernet network are located in the same building or nearby. However, with the development of Ethernet cables, the range of Ethernet can be extended to ten kilometers. But because it relies on cable interconnection, connecting to very long distances is impractical.
In simpler terms, Ethernet is like connecting your home computer or laptop to a modem, which then connects to the internet so you can Skype with friends overseas. Therefore, your home computer, laptop, and modem together form an Ethernet network. Imagine there are thousands upon thousands of Ethernet networks worldwide. In business, Ethernet is used to connect all their computers to a main server.
An Ethernet network can have one or several administrators. While some parts of the Internet may be managed by administrators, there is no single administrator who can control the entire Internet.
Another difference is security. Ethernet is relatively secure because it's a closed, internal network where outsiders have no access. However, the Internet is a public connection, and anyone can browse it.
II. Application of 10 Gigabit Ethernet Accelerated IP SAN Backup System
There are two common ways to implement centralized backup systems: network centralized backup and SAN centralized backup.
In a centralized network backup system, a central backup server is installed on an Ethernet network, and application servers and workstations are configured as clients of the backup server. The central backup server accepts requests from backup agents running on the client machines and transmits data via Ethernet to the local tape libraries it manages and connects to.
In SAN centralized backup, a central backup server is installed in the network. Data from all application servers is backed up through the SAN storage network. Servers that need to be backed up are connected to the tape library through the SAN. A SAN Media Agent is configured on the application server. When triggered by the backup client software, the data that needs to be backed up is read and backed up to the tape library through the SAN.
The advantages of SAN centralized backup are high efficiency, fast backup speed, backup data flow can travel through the 2Gb/s dedicated SAN network without occupying the bandwidth of the business Ethernet, and short backup window. The disadvantages are that it requires the construction of a dedicated fiber optic storage network, which is expensive, complex to implement, and requires a large degree of application system modification.
Implementing an IP SAN network over 10 Gigabit Ethernet is simple and easy, requiring no network modifications, while offering superior bandwidth compared to FC SAN. Building a dedicated IP SAN network for a centralized data backup system on a 10 Gigabit Ethernet network shares some of the network's resources without any additional investment. It integrates two networks (TCP/IP and SAN storage) into a unified 10 Gigabit network, supporting both TCP/IP and IP SAN storage applications. This simplifies the network architecture, and with high-performance, high-reliability disk libraries as backup devices, 10 Gigabit IP SAN backup efficiency becomes extremely high.
Examples of applications of 10 Gigabit Ethernet-accelerated IP SAN backup systems:
Implement an IP SAN network on the existing 10 Gigabit Ethernet network to transform inefficient network backup into efficient SAN backup. With the cooperation of backup software, backup data is directly backed up to a virtual tape library through the 10 Gigabit network, and then output from the virtual tape library to a physical tape library for necessary data archiving.
