Ask the Experts

Ask the Experts

• How can organizations manage Microsoft Teams storage limits?

  Microsoft Teams storage limits can be complex for organizations to track. Learn the details and how to add Microsoft 365 storage to avoid capacity problems.  Continue Reading

• What are 3 best practices for storage encryption at rest?

  Consider the fine print of encrypting data at rest. For example, access control permissions can make or break a storage encryption plan.  Continue Reading

• TB vs. GB: Is a terabyte bigger than a gigabyte?

  A terabyte comprises more than 1 trillion bytes. Discover how the storage measurement scale was created and where a terabyte stands among other units of measurement today.  Continue Reading

• Cache vs. RAM: Differences between the two memory types

  Cache memory and RAM both place data closer to the processor to reduce latency in response times. Learn why one can be faster, along with other key variables in cache vs. RAM.  Continue Reading

• What are 3 best practices for decentralized storage systems?

  Decentralized storage technology can be confusing and complicated. These best practices, however, can help with implementation in enterprise IT infrastructure.  Continue Reading

• What are 3 encryption for cloud storage best practices?

  There are several different methods to cloud storage encryption. These best practices for encryption can help improve security of important cloud data.  Continue Reading

• How do data processing units support enterprise storage?

  While only a small number of hardware vendors offer DPUs, the technology has significant implications for IT storage systems -- and the admins who manage them.  Continue Reading

• How can ransomware attack cloud storage?

  A ransomware attack on cloud storage can have catastrophic effects. Cloud storage is still online, which means it is susceptible to some cyberattacks, so users must be careful.  Continue Reading

• SAN vs. NAS: What are the key differences?

  Compare SAN and NAS and find out what to consider when using each storage system format. Object storage and the cloud are also affecting the storage options that are available.  Continue Reading

• What are VMware vVols and how do they work?

  VMware's new Virtual Volumes allow virtual machines and applications to be better allocated to storage. The feature is now available in beta.  Continue Reading

• What is the difference between memory and storage?

  Storage and memory, while connected, fulfill separate roles in a computer. Memory meets temporary data access needs and storage retains data and other files over the long term.  Continue Reading

• What works best for IoT storage?

  Storage for IoT devices and applications requires new strategies and approaches. Find out how three approaches are being used to facilitate storage for consumers and enterprises.  Continue Reading

• What serverless storage options are available?

  Cloud database services, object storage services and application memory cache are among the options available for storage in serverless environments.  Continue Reading

• How can predictive analytics for unstructured data improve storage?

  AI-based analytics capabilities are becoming pervasive in storage arrays. Find out how they're helping get the unstructured data deluge under control.  Continue Reading

• What's the role of metadata in unstructured data management?

  Discover how to expand your organization's use of metadata to improve the management and storage of unstructured data to make it more organized and accessible.  Continue Reading

• NAS vs. object storage: What's best for unstructured data storage?

  There are advantages and disadvantages to using NAS or object storage for unstructured data. Find out what to consider when it comes to scalability, performance and workload type.  Continue Reading

• What is Kubernetes CSI and how is it being used?

  A recently released CSI-compliant plugin from Kubernetes could help simplify the process of connecting containerized workloads with storage systems.  Continue Reading

• What QLC NAND products are available?

  QLC NAND flash drives started appearing on the market in the last nine months. If your business is ready to try them out, you'll want to know about these options.  Continue Reading

• Where is QLC NAND the most useful in the enterprise?

  Quad-level NAND has its benefits, but is it right for enterprise-level companies? While it can be plagued by performance and durability issues, the technology still has its uses.  Continue Reading

• Is QLC NAND the right choice for you?

  QLC drives can offer high storage capacity and low cost per gigabyte, but speedier alternatives may hold more appeal for some organizations. When does a switch to QLC make sense?  Continue Reading

• What's the best multi-cloud storage strategy for minimizing risks?

  Find out the steps to take to construct a unified multi-cloud security strategy where components work together to provide a single, comprehensive approach.  Continue Reading

• NFS vs. CIFS/SMB: What are the differences?

  Network File System and Common Internet File System/Server Message Block were designed to work with any operating system, but NFS remains dominant in Linux and SMB in Windows.  Continue Reading

• Which NVMe fabric will win out?

  Are you wondering how NVMe over fabrics will shake out? Expect RDMA to take the early lead, but storage pros will continue their love affair with Fibre Channel.  Continue Reading

• What is a LUN and why do we need one?

  Logical unit numbers are a logical abstraction between a physical disk device and applications. Learn more about LUN use cases and LUN security features.  Continue Reading

• Are flash workloads suited to handling unstructured data?

  The storage of unstructured data is a hurdle for many organizations. Object storage keeps it organized but lacks speed thanks to hard disks. Luckily, a better way is on the rise.  Continue Reading

• How do compression and deduplication affect performance?

  Data reduction methods, such as compression or deduplication, can have a positive effect on performance, but the significant CPU resources required could overshadow the benefits.  Continue Reading

• Is there an alternative to error correction and detection codes?

  Errors in NAND flash memory can be corrected, but that becomes more difficult as NAND reaches the end of its life. Are you utilizing every available error correction tool?  Continue Reading

• How can SSD garbage collection help preserve drive speeds?

  The rumors are true: SSD speeds can slow down over time. Luckily, there are processes available that can help prevent this from happening and maintain the speedy nature of SSDs.  Continue Reading

• Does SSD overprovisioning have storage benefits?

  While overprovisioned SSDs have less usable capacity available, that space is put to good use. The majority of SSD manufacturers overprovision their drives, and for good reason.  Continue Reading

• Which enterprise NVMe SSD vendor is right for me?

  Picking an NVMe drive is an important decision. Consider thermal control, proprietary software and drive architecture to make the right choice.  Continue Reading

• Do users need 3D NAND flash memory?

  The population of users who need 3D NAND flash chips on their computers is limited to those who run extremely large workloads, such as big applications or multiple virtual machines.  Continue Reading

• How can I guarantee the best Ceph performance?

  Ceph object storage performance is largely based on network speed, but journal disks and the right file system for object storage devices also play a role.  Continue Reading

• Is there a Ceph client to connect Windows machines?

  Integrating Ceph and Windows isn't as straightforward as connecting Ceph to Linux machines. You'll need a Ceph Gateway or SUSE Enterprise Storage to get the job done.  Continue Reading

• How do I enable file sharing on Ceph object storage?

  The open source Ceph project prioritizes efficient data storage over easy access, so companies that want to set up file sharing on their object stores must do a little extra work.  Continue Reading

• Can I replace HDDs with SSDs to support in-memory storage?

  Replacing all your HDDs with SSDs won't solve the storage issues associated with in-memory databases. Look to hyper-convergence and NVDIMMs instead.  Continue Reading

• Should I be concerned about SSD lifespan?

  HDD and RAID vendors have stirred up FUD around the lifespan of SSD drive cells, but companies considering solid-state don't have to worry about arrays wearing out.  Continue Reading

• Should you use a private cloud chargeback model?

  The idea of chargebacks is to help organizations use private cloud resources efficiently by making departments pay for what they use, but the practice can backfire.  Continue Reading

• What private cloud implementation barriers should I plan for?

  There are many factors to consider when building a private cloud, so planning is crucial. Policy changes and hardware choices are just some challenges that may arise.  Continue Reading

• How is private cloud support divided between IT and providers?

  When companies choose a private cloud storage provider, it's important that they understand what the internal IT department is responsible for, as opposed to what the provider will support.  Continue Reading

• What are the benefits of private cloud over popular alternatives?

  Don't overlook the advantages of private cloud when choosing a cloud storage implementation. Security, cost and ease of transition make it a viable option.  Continue Reading

• Phase change memory technology: Where is it headed?

  With the release of Intel's Optane, a product based on phase change memory is finally on the market. Where PCM goes is dependent on quite a few factors.  Continue Reading

• What are the major benefits of containerization?

  The advantages of containerization become very evident in test and development environments. Explore how container technology is being used to verify application performance.  Continue Reading

• How do RDMA storage systems improve latency reduction?

  RDMA technology can help speed up I/O in storage environments by bypassing copy processes in the software stack when data is called up from a system's memory.  Continue Reading

• How can you increase SSD lifespan and keep performance?

  Solid-state drives offer high performance, but their cost remains prohibitive. Here are some ways to prolong your SSD lifecycle while maintaining performance.  Continue Reading

• Will most 3D NAND flash products continue to feature TLC?

  Vendors are using TLC flash in their 3D NAND flash products, which allows for greater capacity at a lower cost, according to Brien Posey.  Continue Reading

• Why are object stores a good match for archival data storage?

  Latency in object stores that stems from a large amount of metadata means the technology is better suited to non-transactional data.  Continue Reading

• What is eventual consistency in object stores?

  Eventual consistency in object stores can be an issue because object storage is spread over many nodes and up-to-date data may not always be available.  Continue Reading

• What separates object storage systems from SDS?

  Although software-defined storage and object storage can work in similar ways, there are significant differences between the two.  Continue Reading

• What's the difference between EMC VNX series and ViPR?

  Brien Posey explains how two of EMC's virtual storage products work and for what use cases they work best.  Continue Reading

• What's the best way to protect against HDD failure?

  HDD failure can put bytes of data at risk. Is multi-copy mirroring or erasure coding the more efficient data protection approach?  Continue Reading

• Will memristor technology replace NAND flash?

  Brien Posey says that with HP working on a memristor-based computer it plans to launch by 2020, the technology could eventually succeed NAND flash.  Continue Reading

• What are protocol endpoints in vSphere VVOLs and how do they work?

  VMware's new VVOLs feature allows storage functionality to be distributed on a per-VM basis. Protocol endpoints are integral to proper allocation.  Continue Reading

• How does RDMA work and why is it advantageous with flash?

  Remote Direct Memory Access is a good way to reduce latency in flash environments and works with InfiniBand and some Ethernet connections.  Continue Reading

• What's the difference between 'usable' and 'effective' flash capacity?

  Vendors often publish numbers for 'usable' capacity versus 'effective' capacity. Can you explain this and how can you plan flash capacity needs with these numbers in mind?  Continue Reading

• When should I use global file locking in the cloud?

  According to analyst George Crump, global file locking isn't required for single-office cloud users, but for multisite organizations it is a top requirement in a cloud service.  Continue Reading

• How do hardware profiles work in Microsoft Virtual Machine Manager?

  The Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager allows the creation of hardware profiles, which help to provision virtual storage. Brien Posey explains how to use the tool.  Continue Reading

• What criteria are most important when evaluating cloud storage costs?

  With cloud storage pricing models varying so much, it makes sense to compare summaries of these criteria to be sure you make the right choice.  Continue Reading

• What are the benefits of using the Boot to VHD feature?

  Boot to VHD may be seen as a novelty feature, but it also has practical uses in the workplace. Brien Posey explains in this expert answer.  Continue Reading

• How is big data changing data archiving strategies?

  Analyst Jon Toigo explains why performing analytics on big data sets means that data is no longer considered cold, reducing the importance of archives.  Continue Reading

• What are the most obvious object storage use cases for my system?

  Object storage is latency-prone, making it a bad option for production data, but there are several areas where it's incredibly useful.  Continue Reading

• What are the benefits of using an object storage system with file access?

  With increasingly demanding workloads, NAS systems can have a hard time keeping up. Can using NAS with an object storage option relieve some of these problems?  Continue Reading

• What complications can arise when thin provisioning VMware storage?

  Brien Posey dives into the complications users might run into with thinly provisioned VMware data stores and how to address them.  Continue Reading

• How do I increase cache memory?

  Increasing cache memory in your environment might help allocate CPU processes, but it doesn't necessarily result in better performance.  Continue Reading

• What is the relationship between cache technology, CPU and RAM?

  As flash memory caching is on its way in because of its cost and non-volatile nature, RAM may be on its way out the door, says analyst Jon Toigo.  Continue Reading

• Are more than five nines of availability really possible?

  When cloud durability is added to the mix, cloud providers are able to tout a high number of nines of availability.  Continue Reading

• Is the cost of cloud storage really cheaper than traditional storage?

  Cloud storage can be less expensive from a cost-per-gigabyte perspective, but it's important not to lose sight of other benefits as a value proposition.  Continue Reading

• What should I consider when using SSD cloud?

  Using solid-state in the cloud can boost performance, but first be sure you look past cost per gigabyte and are aware of any constraints from providers.  Continue Reading

• What is the difference between a storage snapshot and a clone?

  Cloning and snapshotting can both be good approaches to disaster recovery. Learn what environments are best suited to each.  Continue Reading

• What are some cloud migration challenges or limitations?

  It's not uncommon to run into challenges when migrating data to the cloud. Here are some roadblocks to keep an eye out for.  Continue Reading

• How do VMware thin provisioning alerts work?

  VSphere allows users to set up custom alarms to alert them when capacity or memory is low. Learn how they can be especially helpful when using thin provisioning.  Continue Reading

• Are there any downsides to using VMware thin provisioning?

  Storage should be monitored carefully when using VMware's thin provisioning feature to avoid slower performance and potentially maxing out capacity.  Continue Reading

• NVDIMM vs. memory channel flash storage

  Marc Staimer of Dragon Slayer Consulting compares NVDIMM and memory channel flash, explaining the advantages and disadvantages of each.  Continue Reading

• Memory channel flash storage vs. PCIe flash storage

  Marc Staimer compares memory channel flash storage with PCIe connected flash and offers insight on the advantages and disadvantages of each.  Continue Reading

• How do storage scalability and elasticity differ?

  Scalability has long been an important storage characteristic, but elasticity is becoming more significant. Learn how the two vary.  Continue Reading

• Why isn't Windows Server allowing me to create a storage tier?

  Microsoft expert and SearchStorage.com contributor Brien Posey addresses key challenges to creating storage tiers in Windows Server 2012 R2.  Continue Reading

• How does a scale-out NAS environment affect storage management?

  Phil Goodwin explains how scale-out NAS systems simplify storage management through a single point of control and by combating performance problems.  Continue Reading

• Are SSDs necessary to perform analytics on big data efficiently?

  Storage expert Phil Goodwin explains how SSDs can speed up analytics, but solid-state technology is only needed in certain types of environments.  Continue Reading

• Pros and cons of file- and block-based flash caching

  George Crump of Storage Switzerland discusses pros and cons of file and block flash caching and how they can be implemented in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• What is the top storage challenge with in-memory databases?

  Wikibon CTO David Floyer said the greatest challenge with an in-memory database from a storage perspective is recovery in the event of a problem.  Continue Reading

• Comparing performance and cost of DRAM vs. NAND

  George Crump of Storage Switzerland compares the performance and cost of DRAM to NAND flash in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• Comparing write-through, write-back and write-around caching

  George Crump of Storage Switzerland compares three common types of caching -- write-through, write-back and write-around -- in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• Is there a difference between traditional tiering and sub-LUN tiering?

  Sub-LUN tiering can help with performance in some environments, but according to analyst Jon Toigo, it can also get complicated with growing capacity.  Continue Reading

• Comparing DIMM-connected flash vs. PCIe flash benefits

  Leah Schoeb of Evaluator Group discusses DIMM-connected flash as compared with PCIe flash benefits in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• The variety of enterprise SSD options available today

  Leah Schoeb of Evaluator Group discusses the variety of enterprise SSD options available today in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• How does storage thin provisioning work with Hyper-V automatic trim?

  Learn how Windows Server 2012 R2's automatic trim feature frees up capacity from thinly provisioned virtual hard disks.  Continue Reading

• Using live virtual disk merge in Windows Server 2012 R2 Hyper-V

  Live virtual disk merge, a new feature in Windows Server 2012 R2, allows snapshots to be restored without downtime. Expert Brien Posey explains how.  Continue Reading

• Why is persistent cache important?

  Leah Schoeb, partner with Evaluator Group, discusses the importance of persistent cache in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• How does the shared VHDX file feature in Windows Server 2012 R2 work?

  The new shared VHDX feature brings shared storage to guest clusters by eliminating the need for an iSCSI or Fibre Channel connection.  Continue Reading

• How cloud providers are using NAND flash technology today

  Leah Schoeb, senior partner with Evaluator Group, discusses how cloud providers are using flash today in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• How to align laptop flash drive partitions in Windows

  Marc Staimer outlines how to ensure that your laptop flash drive partitions are aligned properly in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• Can object storage systems be used with file-based apps?

  Learn how to use applications such as Microsoft Exchange or SQL Server with object storage systems on the back end.  Continue Reading

• How can host-based and array-based data replication techniques be compared?

  Learn the benefits and drawbacks to host-based and array-based replication methods to determine which one better suits your environment.  Continue Reading

• Storage thin provisioning: Comparing implementation types

  Analyst Erick Slack explains how to create a thin volume, migrate from thick to thin provisioning and determine when to use thin provisioning.  Continue Reading

• Manufacturing NAND flash chips

  NAND flash chips are made in fabrication plants known as fabs. Market oversupply or undersupply can cause manufacturers to alter production plans.  Continue Reading

• Can shared storage be used with Hadoop architecture?

  Storage expert John Webster discusses three ways to use shared storage together with Hadoop architecture in this Ask the Expert answer.  Continue Reading

• Comparing SLC SSD with DRAM SSD when it comes to IOPS

  Find out how DRAM SSD and SLC SSD compare when it comes to IOPS and if you need a DRAM solution in this Expert Response from Marc Staimer.  Continue Reading

• Persistent VDI vs. non-persistent VDI and their effect on storage resources

  Learn the difference between persistent VDI and non-persistent VDI, how they affect storage and which one carries advantages in terms of capacity and backup requirements.  Continue Reading

• How to calculate available disk space on a RAID 5

  Storage management expert Ashley D'Costa answers a reader's question: "How do I calculate the disk space available on my RAID 5?"  Continue Reading

• RAID 4 vs. RAID 5

  Storage management expert Ashley D'Costa discusses RAID 4 vs. RAID 5.  Continue Reading

• RAID-5 configuration

  Storage management expert Ashley D'Costa answers a reader's question about RAID-5.  Continue Reading