Which option describes the fundamental design differences between an IP-based network design and a SAN-based?

An IP-based network design places redundancy within the fabric itself - using technologies like ECMP, VPC, or spine-leaf topologies - and modern IP data centers are characterized by high east-west traffic volumes as servers communicate laterally peer-to-peer, which distinguishes them from SAN-based designs that rely on host-level multipathing and north-south traffic flows.

Redundancy from the host via dual HBAs or NIC teaming is the hallmark of SAN-based multipathing designs, not IP-based designs where the fabric itself provides path redundancy.

This option incorrectly pairs fabric redundancy with a traffic characteristic that does not align with IP-based data centers - the full distinction requires recognizing that high east-west traffic and fabric redundancy together define IP-based architectures.

Very little east-west traffic describes traditional three-tier or SAN-centric designs where flows run north-south between clients and centralized storage, not modern IP-based data center architectures.