What is a main use of a SAN (Storage Area Network)?

The main use of a Storage Area Network (SAN) is to provide block-level storage solutions. In a SAN architecture, storage devices are networked together and accessed as if they were local disks. This setup allows multiple servers to access the same storage resources, which is particularly beneficial in enterprise environments where high performance, reliability, and scalability are essential. Block-level storage means that the data is managed in fixed-sized blocks, which allows for efficient data retrieval and modification, making it ideal for applications such as databases and transaction-heavy workloads.

In contrast, file-level storage (the focus of another choice) typically involves managing data in files, often accessed over a network file sharing protocol, and does not operate with the same level of performance or flexibility as a SAN offers. Connecting directly to a host generally refers to more straightforward storage connection methods rather than the complex networking capability of SANs. Lastly, storing data on tape is primarily associated with archival and backup solutions, not with the real-time data access and performance that SANs provide.