Ask the Experts

Ask the Experts

• Considerations when using server-side caching in virtual environments

  George Crump of Storage Switzerland outlines issues associated with using server-side caching in virtual server environments in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• How do VM-aware storage and virtual storage appliances differ?

  Virtual storage appliances and VM-aware storage both cater to virtual environments, but in different ways, explains expert Phil Goodwin.  Continue Reading

• How will server SAN adoption play out in IT organizations?

  Wikibon senior analyst Stuart Miniman offers up his prediction for how server SAN adoption will play out in IT organizations.  Continue Reading

• How storage IT pros can support the recovery of in-memory databases

  Wikibon CTO David Floyer provides advice on how storage IT pros can support the recovery of an in-memory database to avoid hours of downtime.  Continue Reading

• MLC flash controller improvements increase reliability, performance

  George Crump discusses how flash controller improvements have increased the performance and reliability of MLC flash in this Expert Answer.  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

• What are the pros and cons of storing VMs on a unified storage array?

  Phil Goodwin outlines and gives examples of how unified storage can be beneficial in virtual server environments -- but not without difficulties.  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 MLC flash reliability still an issue?

  Independent storage expert George Crump discusses MLC flash reliability concerns 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

• Understanding the importance of distributed server-side caching

  George Crump of Storage Switzerland explains distributed server-side caching and why the technology is important in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• NAND flash process geometry and its relation to drive reliability

  George Crump examines the relationship between NAND flash process geometry and drive reliability in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• TRIM support, compatibility with major operating systems

  Leah Schoeb of Evaluator Group discusses which operating systems provide TRIM support in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• SSD pricing and use cases

  Leah Schoeb of Evaluator Group discusses SSD pricing and use cases when SLC flash makes sense in this Expert Answer.  Continue Reading

• Primary storage deduplication increasingly at play in all-flash arrays

  Leah Schoeb of Evaluator Group discusses how primary storage deduplication increases efficiency and longevity of solid-state storage.  Continue Reading