Ask the Experts

Ask the Experts

• 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

• 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

• 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 is the difference between RAM and cache memory?

  Cache memory and random access memory both place data closer to the processor to reduce latency in response times. Learn why cache memory can be the faster option.  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

• SAN vs. NAS: A diagram of the differences

  Having trouble choosing a storage system? While there are some basic differences between SAN and NAS, there are also nuances to consider when making your choice.  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

• What's bigger than a terabyte, and how many gigabytes are in a TB?

  A terabyte comprises more than a trillion bytes. Discover how the storage measurement scale was created and how much a TB of storage will set you back.  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

• How can image cloning help manage data in your NAS?

  Managing image copies in a virtual environment can put stress on your network-attached storage, but cloning can help get things under control -- if your NAS supports it.  Continue Reading

• Object storage vs. NAS: Which should you choose?

  While the choice between object storage offerings and NAS systems used to be pretty clear, innovations in the storage user interface are blurring the lines.  Continue Reading

• Should using flash backup be an option for your organization?

  There are many factors -- beyond the obvious ones of cost and performance -- that determine whether you should choose a flash storage backup option.  Continue Reading

• Are SSD as cache appliances losing prevalence in the market?

  As flash technologies and public cloud storage become increasingly common in enterprises, SSD caching appliances on hard disk drives may soon become outdated.  Continue Reading

• How can I improve flash performance with data reduction strategies?

  Data reduction techniques are important for increasing capacity on SSDs. Compression and deduplication are the most well-known, but other techniques can fill similar roles.  Continue Reading

• What important NVMe 1.2 developments should I know about?

  We know about solid-state standards like NVMe and SCSI Express, but some developments, such as using system RAM, should be on your radar. Find out how these factors affect SSD storage.  Continue Reading

• Solid-state drive costs: What factors do I need to consider?

  SSD costs are on the downswing, but users need to explore the price per IOPS and price per gigabyte before purchasing. Some workloads aren't a match with the technology.  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

• Can I use Microsoft containers with the Docker platform?

  Docker is a mainstay for containerizing applications, but it has been limited to Linux systems. New support for Microsoft Windows Server containers is switching things up.  Continue Reading

• Are Windows Server containers superior to Hyper-V containers?

  In Windows Server 2016, Microsoft offers two container architectures that perform similar functions. But different use cases apply and performance varies.  Continue Reading

• Do object-based storage systems improve data protection?

  Object storage has unique features, including erasure coding and multi-copy mirroring, which may make it better suited to data protection than more traditional systems.  Continue Reading

• SSD cache performance: What is the state of the market?

  SSD caching is included with a majority of products, so vendors have turned their resources toward maximizing throughput and endurance. Discover the issues behind the innovations.  Continue Reading

• How much will 3D XPoint technology affect flash storage?

  Learn how Intel 3D XPoint fits in a flash storage technology space that has already seen single-level cell, multi-level cell, eMLC, triple-level cell and 3D NAND.  Continue Reading

• Why attach NAND flash storage directly to the memory channel?

  Why would you attach NAND flash storage directly to the memory channel? Isn't RAM much faster than NAND? Marc Staimer discusses this and more in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• How do 3D NAND flash vendors ensure bit rot doesn't occur?

  Marc Staimer takes a closer look in this Expert Answer at how 3D NAND flash vendors keep bit rot from taking place, a vexing challenge given 3D NAND flash technology  Continue Reading

• Does TLC flash offer enough resilience for enterprises?

  The suitability of triple-level cell (TLC) flash storage for enterprise use depends on whether applications are heavily read- or write-optimized. Expert Marc Staimer explains the ramifications.  Continue Reading

• What's the relationship between VM-aware storage and VVOLs?

  When traditional storage hardware can't handle virtualized workloads, VM-aware storage can be used as an alternative. But could VMware VVOLs solve the problem instead?  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

• Is parallel I/O suitable for mission-critical applications?

  Parallel computing technology has not seen widespread use in the business world, but could that change? Jon Toigo discusses parallel I/O for applications and where it might fit in.  Continue Reading

• Will flash storage vendors add data protection features?

  Not only will some flash storage vendors add data protection features to their flash storage systems, says expert Brien Posey, one is already doing it.  Continue Reading

• Is SSD flash storage being used for general-purposes?

  Flash SSDs have become more popular in general-purpose storage thanks to lower price points and increased performance, leading to expanded capacity in virtual servers and desktops.  Continue Reading

• What are the best software-defined storage architecture options?

  Software-defined storage architecture can be implemented in several different forms that all expose software functionality to hardware across an environment.  Continue Reading

• How is flash wear affected by virtual environments?

  Flash wear is an important concern in VMware and Hyper-V environments because features such as caching and deduplication can negatively impact endurance.  Continue Reading

• How is cloud data loss prevention changed by shadow IT?

  Shadow IT means enterprises are at increasing risk of cloud data loss, but providing employees with comparable file sharing apps can help.  Continue Reading

• What is SATAe and can it eliminate performance gaps?

  When compared with earlier Serial ATA standards, SATAe is more advanced, reduces latency, has a higher performance level and offers backwards compatibility.  Continue Reading

• How can VM images ease virtual server provisioning?

  By creating multiple VM images, a storage administrator can save time managing and deploying an organization's virtual environment.  Continue Reading

• How does ClusterHQ Flocker work in containerized environments?

  Docker is one of the most popular ways to containerize apps, but it makes migration difficult. The open source ClusterHQ Flocker architecture can help.  Continue Reading

• Is a storage cache or tiered storage best for VDI performance?

  Tiering and caching can both improve performance in VDI, but a storage cache may be the better option for write-heavy environments.  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

• How do consumer and enterprise sync and share differ?

  Enterprise-grade file sync-and-share products offer more comprehensive features than consumer-grade file sharing applications.  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

• Why choose object storage systems over file storage?

  Traditional file storage can have a hard time handling today's massive amounts of metadata. Learn why object storage has become a popular replacement.  Continue Reading

• Is it time to rethink the traditional file system?

  Large amounts of unstructured data and technologies like cloud have some asking if the traditional file system is up to the task.  Continue Reading

• How has the cloud appliance market evolved in the last few years?

  The terminology used to describe a cloud appliance is constantly changing, so users need to pay attention to the added features that differentiate them.  Continue Reading

• What is data-defined storage and how does it work?

  Learn how your organization can use data-defined storage to organize and capitalize on the massive amounts of data it collects every day.  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

• How does the vSphere 6 release affect storage?

  VSphere 6 supports NFS 4.1, but there are caveats to using multiple versions of NFS that storage administrators should be aware of.  Continue Reading

• Are software-defined technology developments influencing storage?

  With storage developments moving from hardware toward software, many vendors are reworking products to capitalize on the software-defined technology movement.  Continue Reading

• How do VMware containers work?

  Brien Posey explains the difference between storage virtualization and storage containers, and the benefits of using containers for VMs.  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

• Should I use open source software-defined storage for primary data apps?

  While it has yet to make a large impact in the market, open source software-defined storage is becoming an option for primary data applications.  Continue Reading

• Should you move to PCIe flash storage?

  PCIe flash can offer lower latency than array-based flash in some cases. However, it has limitations. Find out if PCIe flash storage is right for you.  Continue Reading

• What are some of the concerns around cloud-integrated storage?

  Cloud-integrated storage uses object storage as a tier to keep costs low, but migration and performance limitations are holding it back.  Continue Reading

• What are some considerations around cloud object storage performance?

  Object storage in the cloud may be attractive because of its low cost, but you might want to reconsider if you need top-tier performance.  Continue Reading

• Why is storage QoS so important for flash arrays?

  Storage quality of service (QoS) is important in SSD environments because of resource contention, says Brien Posey in this expert response.  Continue Reading

• When will TLC flash come to enterprise storage arrays?

  Triple-level cell (TLC) flash is designed to overcome one of the key problems with flash storage: capacity.  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

• Will we see more PCIe-based flash storage access similar to EMC's DSSD?

  Attaching flash directly to the PCI Express bus offers very low latency, but space is limited for on-board server-side flash. PCIe-based access for storage arrays may be the answer.  Continue Reading

• How can storage arrays take advantage of vSphere VVOLs?

  Virtual Volumes allow storage features to be provisioned to VMs, but the available feature set depends on the hardware.  Continue Reading

• How can I best provision storage for virtual servers?

  When it comes to provisioning storage for virtual machines, techniques such as golden images and thin provisioning are key.  Continue Reading

• What do I need to know about implementing vSphere VVOLs?

  VSphere VVOLs are making a splash in the storage market. Taneja Group expert Tom Fenton answers questions regarding updates to firmware and software.  Continue Reading

• What are some key considerations for VM data protection?

  In physical environments data protection often means restoring an entire system, but using the same methodology for virtual servers is inefficient.  Continue Reading

• What storage problems can vSphere Virtual Volumes solve?

  VSphere VVOLs allow virtual administrators to self-provision a pool of storage as they see fit.  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

• When will NVM Express flash drives appear in laptops and desktops?

  NVM Express flash drives promise capacity and throughput, but there are some factors limiting adoption of the technology.  Continue Reading

• Can I improve VM performance with flash tiering?

  Physical RAM and flash storage are traditional ways to improve VM performance. But the addition of mixed flash holds promise.  Continue Reading

• Are data reduction techniques essential in VDI environments?

  Data reduction techniques can help shrink your storage footprint and costs. Here are some guidelines for incorporating these approaches into your VDI environment.  Continue Reading

• Should I use an all-flash or hybrid array for my virtual desktop environment?

  Taneja Group's Tom Fenton weighs the benefits and drawbacks of using hybrid and all-flash arrays for storage in this expert answer.  Continue Reading

• How can I simplify storage allocation for virtual desktops?

  Find out the easiest methods of allocating storage for a virtual desktop infrastructure.  Continue Reading

• Should flash storage be used for backup performance?

  Adding a high-speed flash storage tier to secondary storage can increase backup performance  Continue Reading

• When will 3-D NAND products hit the market?

  Vendors are increasing production of 3-D NAND-based chips. Learn how chip developments can cut costs.  Continue Reading

• Do customer-managed data encryption keys work with sync and share?

  Most sync-and-share products encrypt data, but a growing number of vendors are handing data encryption key management over to customers.  Continue Reading