As demands for on-line and near-line data storage grow, the job of balancing the cost of equipment against performance becomes more challenging. New storage solutions based on Serial ATA architecture are promising lower costs while still providing high levels of performance. The design and construction of these storage solutions are as varied as the number of manufacturers that produce them. By utilizing the information within this white paper, you will have a better understanding of what constitutes a properly built storage enclosure so that you can evaluate and select a storage system that meets your cost, performance, and reliability needs.