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Solid-state storage update
- Sep 2009
Solid-state storage is still mostly for well-heeled shops with power-hungry apps, but new developments could bring solid state down to earth soon. |
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Virtual desktops and storage
- Aug 2009
Server virtualization has had a profound impact on storage infrastructures, but the coming wave of desktop virtualization will place new demands on storage environments. |
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Dueling directors
- Jun 2009
Director-class switches have been used to maintain performance in large storage networks for years, but soon they'll act as the hubs that unify data center networks. |
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Replication alternatives
- Apr 2009
Data replication is great for protecting critical data and ensuring quick recoveries. Find out where you should deploy replication: in your array, network or servers. |
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DR for virtualized servers
- Dec 2008
A high level of mobility and the relative hardware independence of virtual servers greatly reduces the cost and complexity of putting disaster recovery (DR) in place, enabling companies to expand DR to a larger number of servers and applications. |
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Second-generation CDP
- Oct 2008
Continuous data protection (CDP) received lots of attention but garnered few takers as a standalone product. Since then, the technology has been incorporated into data protection products and its role is now likely to expand. In addition, rapid data growth and shrinking backup windows are two of the trends that support the increased adoption of CDP. |
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Centralize virtualization at the switch
- Sep 2008
There are a number of ways you can virtualize your storage, but because a switch-based virtualization engine works out-of-band, there's no need for server agents, making it the most scalable and highest performing of all virtualization architectures. |
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Solid State: New frontier for storage
- Jul 2008
Solid-state media is starting to show up as an option for traditional storage arrays because it offers higher performance and lower power consumption. However, there are still reliability concerns related to wear out, the slower write performance of flash cells, and issues related to array management and interoperability. |
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Arrays score with both file and block storage
- Mar 2008
Multiprotocol arrays that support block- and file-based storage through a single controller give users the best of both worlds: NAS for file-based information, and Fibre Channel or ISCSI block-based storage for databases and other transactional apps. |
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Run storage as a utility
- Dec 2007
Converting from a traditional decentralized IT and storage infrastructure to running IT services and storage like a utility isn't a trivial task; it requires a big shift for both business units and IT. But mandates to lower costs and meet compliance requirements will undoubtedly result in an increasing number of organizations opting for centralized storage models with tiered storage offerings. |
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How useful are storage benchmarks?
- Oct 2007
Most storage vendors like to tout how well their gear performed on benchmark tests, but the results may not always be as they first appear. The benchmarking process can be easily manipulated because of the large number of variables that influence performance results. To level the playing field, test results need to be categorized by product type, configuration standards need to be defined for each category and vendors must strictly adhere to the configurations. |
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Storage grid pushes the envelope
- Oct 2007
What started out as a test-bed project for Network Appliance is now a good example of architecting enterprise storage systems. The vendor's Kilo-Client project showcases how SAN booting and thinly provisioned snapshots can be used in a storage grid for rapid provisioning, simplified storage management and huge disk space savings. |
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Stamp out NAS threats
- Sep 2007
NAS is open to many of the exploits (viruses, worms, unauthorized access, data tampering, snooping and IP spoofing) that have plagued Windows-based systems. But even though NAS runs on ubiquitous Ethernet and TCP/IP transport protocols, it's fairly easy to protect. The hard part is selecting the right level of protection. |
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Tools to fine-tune your backups
- Jul 2007
Backup and recovery applications typically include reporting capabilities, but they're often rudimentary and provide only basic information on the success or failure of data protection operations. Data protection and recovery management (DPRM) products, an emerging class of monitoring and planning tools, fill in the gaps where traditional backup apps fall short. DPRM tools provide advanced capacity reporting, predict usage patterns and allow performance tuning, troubleshooting and cost management. Here's how to pick the best product for your shop. |
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Unsnarl port traffic
- Apr 2007
Configuring the number of ports on storage arrays and switches shouldn't be a guessing game that results in an excess of ports and a big dent in your budget. To properly size a switch or storage array, you need to analyze the average and peak bandwidth requirements of each device. Monitoring current utilization rates will help you determine effective bandwidth requirements. |
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Integrating iSCSI and FC storage
- Feb 2007
Mixing iSCSI with Fibre Channel (FC) allows you to make more efficient use of installed storage capacity, but marrying the two protocols isn't without its challenges. Bringing iSCSI into existing FC SANs raises integration issues and leads to a somewhat more complex storage infrastructure that requires IP and FC knowledge, as well as the ability to manage and troubleshoot a multiprotocol storage environment. |
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SAN consolidation strategies
- Dec 2006
As islands of SANs proliferate in companies, the cost of storage can soar. Sound SAN design strategies allow companies to reduce the number of SAN islands, strengthen a primary SAN, make storage easier to manage and provide more data protection. |
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Disaster recovery: Test, test and test some more
- Sep 2006
Storage managers in New Orleans thought their disaster recovery (DR) plans were solid. Hurricane Katrina showed them otherwise. These dramatic stories are testimony that a DR plan is worthless unless it's been tested, updated and then tested again. |
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Special Supplement: iSCSI: Low-cost alternative to FC
- Aug 2006
Based on the familiar TCP/IP networking protocol, iSCSI arrays are easy to implement and manage, and cheaper than Fibre Channel (FC)-based systems. They're also becoming a popular alternative to NAS and DAS for SMBs and remote office locations. |
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The best way to expand a SAN
- Jul 2006
Building a new SAN or extending an existing SAN requires careful planning to strike the right balance between performance, cost, scalability, high availability and ease of management. Read how to determine what architecture is best for your company's storage access needs. |
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Single-pane storage management
- May 2006
Managing a heterogeneous storage environment means juggling a hodgepodge of vendor-specific tools. Some vendors are working toward a consolidated management console, but standards are needed for single-pane storage management to become a reality. |
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