CompTIA Cloud+ Practice Test

Which of the following connects a server and a SAN to improve performance?

1. Network interface card

2. Host bus adapter

3. Ethernet

4. SCSI

The correct answer is: Host bus adapter

The host bus adapter is a crucial component that connects a server to a storage area network (SAN). It serves as the interface that allows data to transfer between the storage devices and the server, using protocols that enhance communication speed and efficiency. By effectively managing data traffic and providing a dedicated path for data transfer, the host bus adapter can significantly improve performance by reducing latency and increasing throughput. Network interface cards, while important for connecting servers to networks, do not specifically address the unique requirements of storage communications within a SAN environment. Similarly, Ethernet primarily pertains to networking protocols and might not offer the specialized performance boosts needed for SAN connections. SCSI, or Small Computer System Interface, is a set of standards for connecting and transferring data between computers and peripheral devices, but does not fulfill the same role as a host bus adapter in facilitating a direct and high-performance link between a server and a SAN. Thus, the host bus adapter is specifically designed to optimize the connection between servers and SANs, making it the correct choice in this context.