Lesson 1Object storage internals: eventual consistency, REST APIs, buckets, metadata, scalability and use casesThis part delves into object storage systems, emphasising RESTful access, buckets, and metadata. Learners examine eventual consistency, data distribution and scaling methods, and the types of workloads that suit object storage best in local environments.
Buckets, objects, and key namingREST APIs and common operationsEventual consistency behavioursMetadata indexing and searchScaling out capacity and throughputObject storage use cases and limitsLesson 2Cloud storage models: IaaS block storage, managed file storage, object storage, and differences from on-premises storageThis part investigates cloud storage choices, covering IaaS block, managed file, and object storage. Learners contrast durability, performance, and costs, and understand how cloud services vary from traditional on-site storage setups and operations in Namibia.
IaaS block storage characteristicsManaged cloud file storage servicesCloud object storage featuresDurability, availability, and SLAsCost models and lifecycle policiesHybrid and multicloud storage patternsLesson 3RAID families and trade-offs: RAID 0/1/5/6/10, rebuild behaviour, write penalty, and when to use eachThis part outlines main RAID levels, such as 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10, and their balance of performance, capacity, and reliability. Learners assess rebuild processes, write penalties, and advice on picking RAID for different workloads relevant to Namibian businesses.
RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10 fundamentalsParity, mirroring, and striping basicsWrite penalty and random I/O impactRebuild times and failure riskRAID selection for key workloadsRAID vs. erasure coding overviewLesson 4Block storage vs. file storage vs. object storage: definitions, access patterns, metadata differencesThis part defines block, file, and object storage and how applications engage with them. Learners compare access methods, namespace setups, and metadata management to grasp which model fits various workload types in practical Namibian applications.
Block storage concepts and LUN usageFile storage namespaces and sharesObject storage flat namespace modelMetadata handling in each modelTypical workload access patternsChoosing the right storage modelLesson 5Storage area network (SAN): Fibre Channel and iSCSI basics, LUNs, zoning, multipathingThis part introduces SAN ideas, including Fibre Channel and iSCSI, and how they deliver block devices as LUNs. Learners explore zoning, masking, and multipathing to create robust, high-performance shared storage networks for Namibian enterprises.
SAN vs. NAS: conceptual differencesFibre Channel fabric fundamentalsiSCSI concepts and connectivityLUN provisioning and maskingZoning strategies and securityMultipathing and path failoverLesson 6Direct-attached storage (DAS): architecture, use cases, limitations, performance characteristicsThis part reviews direct-attached storage, where drives link straight to a host. Learners consider common setups, performance traits, scalability boundaries, and when DAS works well against NAS or SAN options in Namibian setups.
Typical DAS hardware topologiesLocal RAID controllers and JBODPerformance traits and bottlenecksScalability and manageability limitsDAS use cases and best fitsComparing DAS with NAS and SANLesson 7Network-attached storage (NAS): protocols (SMB, NFS), typical deployments, concurrency and permissionsThis part introduces NAS concepts, highlighting how SMB and NFS share folders over networks. Learners review deployment styles, concurrency management, and permission systems that safeguard data and manage multiuser access in Namibian offices.
NAS vs. file server: key differencesCore NAS components and data pathsSMB protocol basics and capabilitiesNFS protocol basics and versionsPermissions, ACLs, and identity mappingTypical NAS deployment patternsLesson 8Performance metrics and capacity metrics: IOPS, throughput, latency, capacity planning basics, utilisation and growth forecastingThis part explains vital performance and capacity measures, like IOPS, throughput, latency, and utilisation. Learners practise reading metrics, planning capacity, and predicting growth to keep storage systems reliable and efficient in Namibian operations.
Defining IOPS, throughput, and latencyQueue depth and workload profilesMonitoring tools and key indicatorsCapacity planning and headroomUtilisation thresholds and alertsGrowth forecasting and trend analysisLesson 9Backup vs. archive vs. replication: objectives, retention models, RPO/RTO basics, and common strategiesThis part distinguishes backup, archive, and replication aims. Learners study retention approaches, RPO and RTO goals, and ways to mix technologies and timetables to fulfil compliance, recovery, and business continuity in Namibian contexts.
Backup goals and recovery scenariosArchive use cases and compliance needsReplication types and topologiesDefining RPO and RTO requirementsRetention policies and data lifecycleCommon enterprise protection strategies
