Unstructured data storage showdown: Object storage vs scale-out NAS

Introduction

Data is growing exponentially with no signs of stopping anytime soon. Luckily, a number of products on the market are designed to deal with unstructured data storage. Object storage and scale-out NAS are two major contenders in this field. Popular for their scalability, capacity and performance, the two storage technologies have similar benefits but they are not interchangeable.

Prior to the introduction of scale-out NAS, the choice between object and network-attached storage was a bit easier. If you wanted scalability, you went with object storage and its unique approach to storing files and metadata. Object storage systems forgo a traditional, hierarchical file storage system by assigning a unique identifier to each file and its metadata. Scalability is increased, as the physical location of data becomes irrelevant. Object storage is particularly attractive to cloud storage providers because of its massive scalability and shared tenancy features, especially in comparison to traditional file or block-based storage.

Unlike the conventional NAS systems that preceded them, scale-out NAS not only can handle unstructured data storage, but it can simplify storage management, boost capacity and improve performance. With scale-out NAS, new hardware can be added and configured on an as-needed basis. When the storage limit is reached, simply add another array to the system to expand capacity. Storage can be accessed and controlled across different arrays, keeping management simple as hardware is added. However, scale-out NAS may not be the best fit for enterprises with large numbers of small files.

In this essential guide, we'll dive into the differences between object storage and scale-out NAS, and how they match up against each other.

1Scale-out NAS-

New and improved network-attached storage

With scale-out NAS, management across separate physical modules is simplified without the need to add filers as storage grows. The single, highly scalable file system can boost performance and simplify management for unstructured data storage.

Tip

How to upgrade scale-out NAS systems

When upgrading your scale-out network-attached storage, a performance impact may feel inevitable. However, with proper planning, you can avoid problems. Continue Reading

Feature

What to look for in a scale-out NAS array

Along with price and available features, scalability is one of the top concerns for those in the market for a new NAS array. Continue Reading

Answer

Scale-out NAS systems simplify storage management

When faced with the dreaded NAS sprawl, users with scale-out NAS arrays can manage capacity from a single point of control. Continue Reading

Feature

The top scale-out NAS products available

All major storage suppliers have scale-out NAS products on the market, but these six stand out for their price, capacity and performance. Continue Reading

Feature

Scale-out NAS vs scale-up NAS

Traditional NAS and scale-up products have their advantages, but does one surpass the other in terms of cost and capacity? Continue Reading

2Object storage-

Growing in popularity

An attractive alternative to traditional NAS, object storage systems assign a unique identifier to each file and its metadata. The physical location of the data becomes irrelevant and scalability is increased significantly. View the following links to see what the buzz is about and how object storage stacks up against other storage options.

3Making the choice-

Object storage vs. scale-out NAS

There are advantages to both object storage and scale-out NAS, but does one trump the other? Both are good options for tackling unstructured data storage, but an organization's specific needs will be the deciding factor.