Final answer:
SAS is a cost-effective storage technology requiring cluster nodes to be physically close to the drives, offering simplicity and reduced cable complexity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The storage technology that is a low-cost option typically requiring cluster nodes to be physically close to the drives is D) SAS (Serial Attached SCSI). Compared to other options like iSCSI, Fibre Channel, and Fibre Channel over Ethernet, SAS is known for its simplicity and cost-effectiveness, especially within a shorter distance or within a single data center.
SAS allows for the direct connection of storage devices to the servers with a lesser cable complexity and without the need for networking hardware required for IP-based storage.