Summary

This chapter discussed the general environment for storage I/O processing as well as the path used for storage I/O transmissions. The environment for storage processing is not very forgiving due to the need to preserve system performance and the need for data consistency.

The concept of an I/O path was discussed, including the numerous software, hardware, and networking elements involved in data transmissions between applications to storage media. As this type of analysis indicates, many intervening components can have an impact on I/O processing.

Readers now have the background needed to understand the more detailed discussions in the remainder of the book. Analyzing storage using the global context laid out in this chapter is a valuable skill that can help clarify discussions of storage processes and networks at any level.