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A `!disk array`! is a `F33f`_`[disk storage`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Disk_storage]`_`f system which contains multiple disk drives.`:cite-ref-0-1-0[`F5bf`_`[1`#cite-note-0-1]`_`f] It is differentiated from a `F33f`_`[disk enclosure`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Disk_enclosure]`_`f, in that an array has `F33f`_`[cache`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Cache_(computing)]`_`f memory and advanced functionality, like `F33f`_`[RAID`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Redundant_array_of_independent_disks]`_`f, `F33f`_`[deduplication`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Data_deduplication]`_`f, `F33f`_`[encryption`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Encryption]`_`f and `F33f`_`[virtualization`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Storage_virtualization]`_`f.

Components of a disk array include:`:cite-ref-1-2-0[`F5bf`_`[2`#cite-note-1-2]`_`f]

• `F33f`_`[Disk array controllers`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Disk_array_controller]`_`f

• `F33f`_`[Cache`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Cache_(computing)]`_`f in form of both volatile `F33f`_`[random-access memory`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Random-access_memory]`_`f and `F33f`_`[non-volatile`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Non-volatile_memory]`_`f `F33f`_`[flash memory`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Flash_memory]`_`f.

• `F33f`_`[Disk enclosures`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Disk_enclosure]`_`f for both `F33f`_`[magnetic`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Magnetic_storage]`_`f rotational `F33f`_`[hard disk drives`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Hard_disk_drive]`_`f and electronic `F33f`_`[solid-state drives`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Solid-state_drive]`_`f.

• `F33f`_`[Power supplies`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Power_supply]`_`f

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 `F33f`_`[single points of failure`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Single_point_of_failure]`_`f (SPOFs) are eliminated from the design.`:cite-ref-3[`F5bf`_`[3`#cite-note-3]`_`f] Additionally, disk array components are often `F33f`_`[hot-swappable`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Hot_swapping]`_`f.

Traditionally disk arrays were divided into categories:`:cite-ref-1-2-1[`F5bf`_`[2`#cite-note-1-2]`_`f]

• `F33f`_`[Network attached storage`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Network_attached_storage]`_`f (NAS) arrays

• `F33f`_`[Storage area network`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Storage_area_network]`_`f (SAN) arrays:

• Modular SAN arrays

• Monolithic SAN arrays

• Utility Storage Arrays

• `F33f`_`[Storage virtualization`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Storage_virtualization]`_`f

Primary vendors of storage systems include `F33f`_`[Coraid, Inc.`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Coraid,_Inc.]`_`f, `F33f`_`[DataDirect Networks`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=DataDirect_Networks]`_`f, `F33f`_`[Dell EMC`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Dell_EMC]`_`f, `F33f`_`[Fujitsu`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Fujitsu]`_`f, `F33f`_`[Hewlett Packard Enterprise`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Hewlett_Packard_Enterprise]`_`f, `F33f`_`[Hitachi Data Systems`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Hitachi_Data_Systems]`_`f, `F33f`_`[Huawei`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Huawei]`_`f, `F33f`_`[IBM`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=IBM]`_`f, `F33f`_`[Infortrend`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Infortrend]`_`f, `F33f`_`[NetApp`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=NetApp]`_`f, `F33f`_`[Oracle Corporation`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Oracle_Corporation]`_`f, `F33f`_`[Panasas`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Panasas]`_`f, `F33f`_`[Pure Storage`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Pure_Storage]`_`f and other companies that often act as `F33f`_`[OEM`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=OEM]`_`f for the above vendors and do not themselves market the storage components they manufacture.`:cite-ref-0-1-1[`F5bf`_`[1`#cite-note-0-1]`_`f]

>>References

`:cite-note-0-1`!1.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-0-1-0]`_`f `:citerefbeal2004`aBeal, Vangie (19 October 2004). "What is Disk Array Definition? Webopedia Definition". `*www.webopedia.com`*. Retrieved 2020-04-07.

`:cite-note-1-2`!2.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-1-2-0]`_`f "What Is a Storage Array? Data Server and Disk Architecture". `*DNSstuff`*. 2019-10-10. Retrieved 2020-04-07.

`:cite-note-3`!3.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-3]`_`f "What is disk array? - Definition from WhatIs.com". `*SearchStorage`*. Retrieved 2020-04-07.

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