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Our View: Quantifying a galaxy's worth of data
This article is part of the Storage issue of Vol. 7 No. 4 June 2008
If numbers don't lie, then we're all in for some storage overload. In the "digital universe" (which for now presumably includes just Earth), the amount of data collected by 2011 will be 1.9 trillion gigabytes, according to a recent IDC report commissioned by EMC. But how did they get that number? Dave Reinsel, co-author and group VP, says IDC arrived at its number by plugging digital storage shipments and content forecasts into an in-house algorithm. "I looked at tape, optical, disk and flash, and came up with how much we have shipped and how much will be available in the future," he says. Teammate John Gantz created an algorithm and applied it to digital content sources that included cameras, videos, LCD TVs, X-rays and RFID tags. IDC doesn't have competitors disputing its claim. No other research firm has yet tried to quantify all the world's data, leaving us to stagger under the weight of 1.9 trillion gigs of data until next year's estimate piles on more. --Christine Cignoli
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Features in this issue
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Gaps seen in file archiving tools
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10 key considerations for email archiving
If you haven't standardized on an email archiving product, it can be time-consuming to find one that fits your company's needs. We list the 10 questions that will help you narrow down the list of available products and find the one that best suits your requirements.
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Ask the Expert: Connecting two data centers
I'm connecting two data centers, 70km apart, and I want to use EMC Symmetrix for synchronous replication. Will that distance work?
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Migrate data without mistakes
Data migrations are a fact of life. In many cases, the migration ends up being a tedious process. Automated tools can help ease migration woes. Host-based migration software takes the load off the storage array and can easily bridge the gap when migrating data between heterogeneous storage systems. But array-based migration may be preferred for technology refreshes.
Columns in this issue
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Hot Spots: Data deduplication drama
Deduplication is one of those influential, crucial technologies that comes along every few years. But the vendor landscape is changing quickly, with new entrants and a recent spate of acquisitions. Cut through the vendor hype by requesting real-world references and proof points.
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Storage Bin 2.0: Bridging the gap with just one word
Do you want to once again rise to hold a prominent seat at the table of corporate glory? All you have to do is learn one simple word: "Yes."
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Best Practices: Planting seeds of green
Adopting green storage practices is all about being a good corporate citizen, trying to save storage operational costs and perhaps making a positive impact on the environment.