Plan ahead to skip storage snags:

So, what can a storage network admin do to lighten their urgent load? Focus on the important as well as the urgent. Set aside and schedule some time every day for important tasks before they become urgent. Here are some best practices that can make a difference in the positive health of the storage network:

• Verify that SAN implementation matches the organization's policies and will work as you think they do. And, be sure to verify it every time a change is made to the SAN.


• Test backups at least once a quarter to make sure that you can really recover from them when you need to.


• Change the default password on your SAN switches/directors.


• Make sure the SAN switch Ethernet management port is on a completely isolated LAN segment.


• Make sure your backups are encrypted in-flight and at rest.


• Implement effective SRM that allows you to plan your storage instead of having the urgent storage requirements manage you.

Now, if I can just get management to tell me what they're planning for my infrastructure, then I'm set. Of course, the day after that happens, I'm snowboarding in hell...

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