Features

Features

• NAS storage systems satisfaction survey: EMC, Hitachi earn top marks

  NAS storage systems are the storage workhorses of most data centers; EMC's and Hitachi Data Systems' NAS entries lead a strong field in our satisfaction survey.  Continue Reading

• Tiered data storage: State of the art

  Tiered data storage is now a storage best practice, accelerated by the use of solid-state storage. We survey how major vendors leverage solid-state to implement storage tiering.  Continue Reading

• The truth about SSD performance benchmarks

  Solid-state storage vendors are touting "million IOPS" performance numbers. Here's what you need to know to see if those SSD performance benchmarks ring true.  Continue Reading

• Unified storage systems favored for efficiency and convenience

  Arrays that combine block and file storage in a single box -- also known as multiprotocol arrays or unified storage systems -- are more popular now than ever before.  Continue Reading

• Hot data storage technologies for 2013

  These six storage technologies will play pivotal roles in transforming data centers in 2013.  Continue Reading

• Buying a cloud storage gateway appliance

  Learn the architectural considerations, dependencies and value-add features buyers need to evaluate when purchasing a cloud storage gateway appliance.  Continue Reading

• Virtualized desktops trigger storage spending

  Have you virtualized desktops at your company? Find out what our survey respondents have to say about implementing a virtual desktop infrastructure.  Continue Reading

• Storage budget picture brightens

  Our storage Purchasing Intentions survey finds storage budgets are recovering, offering storage managers a measure of relief in their struggle to contain data capacities.  Continue Reading

• File storage focuses on scalable NAS

  NAS systems are at the heart of burgeoning file data stores. But they'll have to evolve to meet new capacity, accessibility and management needs.  Continue Reading

• Data storage salary survey 2012: Skills more valuable than ever

  Our 2012 storage salary survey finds that despite tough times—growing capacities, shrinking budgets and long hours—data storage professionals are making more money than ever.  Continue Reading

• Three approaches to hybrid cloud technology for data storage managers

  Expert Marc Staimer drills into the benefits and challenges associated with the three main approaches to hybrid cloud storage in this video guide.  Continue Reading

• Enterprise IT shops now choose SSD storage

  Despite high costs, more enterprise IT shops now choose SSD storage for their I/O-intensive applications.  Continue Reading

• The storage-for-VDI equation: Capacity, IOPS, TCO, ROI and persistency

  A virtual desktop project can bring savings and efficiency to IT operations, but storage for VDI is a complex issue, and the wrong choices can hobble the project.  Continue Reading

• New, enhanced vSphere 5 storage functionalities command users' attention

  Better storage capabilities in vSphere 5 help IT shops manage and monitor the back-end resources in their virtual environments.  Continue Reading

• 'Big data' survey on storage and analytics shows rise in implementation

  Terri McClure reveals the results of a recent ESG big data survey. Find out what respondents had to say about big data processing and analytics.  Continue Reading

• Server virtualization and storage management: Better integration, specialized tools

  Virtualization and storage management still presents challenges, but nowadays it provides tighter integration and more effective management tools.  Continue Reading

• Despite its limitations, DAS solutions still find role in data center

  Despite limitations, DAS solutions still have a role in data centers, thanks to PCIe solid-state storage products and cloud computing requirements.  Continue Reading

• Virtual I/O for an efficient virtualized data center

  As virtual machines place new I/O demands on storage systems, virtual I/O is becoming increasingly important in creating a more cost-effective virtual data center.  Continue Reading

• I/O performance, storage infrastructure lead big data issues list

  ESG senior analyst Terri McClure looks at the latest big data issues relating to I/O, Hadoop and storage sprawl.  Continue Reading

• What is SSD storage? Answers to common solid-state storage questions

  Looking for better knowledge about SSD storage? Check out Dennis Martin’s answers to common solid-state storage questions.  Continue Reading

• Scalable storage systems: Examining scale-out NAS

  Scale-out NAS systems can accommodate data growth simply by adding more capacity and processing power.  Continue Reading

• How open source "Swift" OpenStack Object Storage works

  MercadoLibre’s "Swift" OpenStack Object Storage makes use of clusters of commodity servers to store typically static data; MD5 hash algorithm assigns unique identifiers to files.  Continue Reading

• MercadoLibre blazes open source cloud storage trail using OpenStack

  MercadoLibre blazes open source cloud storage trail using OpenStack components for object storage, block storage and computing to set up a private cloud infrastructure.  Continue Reading

• Define SSD: Top terms you need to know

  How do you define SSD? Check out this list of important SSD terms. The list includes terms you should know and some that may seem obscure.  Continue Reading

• What to consider when choosing a "big data" infrastructure

  As the adoption of a big data infrastructure continues in firms, understanding unstructured storage environments becomes even more important.  Continue Reading

• iSCSI SAN performance remains strong after 10 years

  Despite early doubters, iSCSI SAN performance remains strong after 10 years and continues to gain ground on Fibre Channel as a storage protocol.  Continue Reading

• Buyer’s checklist: Solid-state storage arrays

  SSDs are on the rise and today there is a growing list of commercially available, purpose-built, solid-state storage arrays.  Continue Reading

• Data storage best practices: Jon Toigo’s top 5 storage efficiency tips

  Watch these five storage best practices video clips from expert Jon Toigo and read his tips to achieve efficiency in your storage environment.  Continue Reading

• Performance considerations for efficient data storage

  Data storage administrators can achieve efficient data storage by checking performance acceleration expectations at the door.  Continue Reading

• Use green data storage technologies to gain power efficiency

  According to Jon Toigo, you need to assess any green data storage technologies added to your shop to maintain uptime and control energy costs.  Continue Reading

• Five data protection guidelines for business continuity

  Storage expert Jon Toigo offers data protection guidelines to help storage admins achieve the best possible results when protecting data in their care.  Continue Reading

• Virtual server storage: Choosing between Fibre Channel, iSCSI and NAS

  Knowing the best virtual server storage option for your data center can be a challenge. Learn the pros and cons of Fibre Channel, iSCSI and NAS.  Continue Reading

• Storage Networking World Spring 2012: Cloud angles everywhere

  Cloud storage and virtualization products made the biggest headlines at this year’s spring Storage Networking World event.  Continue Reading

• Cloud standards on the horizon: CDMI, PEAT, security best practices

  Cloud standards, such as CDMI and PEAT, ensure protocols are in place for data transfer in the cloud. Concerns over best practices and security are a driving force for standards.  Continue Reading

• Capacity utilization efficiency not above your pay grade

  In this data storage efficiency tip, expert Jon Toigo explains how capacity utilization can yield benefits like more disk space and lowered costs.  Continue Reading

• Capacity allocation efficiency explained

  Jon Toigo provides tips on how to improve capacity allocation efficiency. Successful allocation prevents storage-related downtime and associated costs.  Continue Reading

• Storage networking infrastructure trends must figure in upgrade plans

  Staying abreast of the latest trends in storage networking infrastructure will help you when you’re ready to consolidate and virtualize your data center.  Continue Reading

• VDI storage system options include flash appliances, bundled stacks

  Traditional and upstart storage vendors are racing to solve VDI storage issues with solid-state appliances and storage-compute bundles designed to relieve I/O bottlenecks.  Continue Reading

• Everything you need to know about cloud-based file sharing

  Cloud-based file sharing is quickly gaining in popularity. Learn about the technology's strengths and weaknesses, and whether or not cloud file sharing can replace data backup.  Continue Reading

• Defining cloud storage: Nine cloud requirements to know

  Nailing down the definition of cloud storage isn't easy, but our list of cloud requirements that make up public and private offerings can help.  Continue Reading

• Showback vs chargeback: Showback new resource analysis tool of choice

  In a showback vs. chargeback comparison, showback is winning more fans than the more complex chargeback when it comes to helping businesses track storage usage.  Continue Reading

• Choose an integrated stack for efficiency, easy storage implementation

  An integrated stack bundles servers, storage and networking in a preconfigured product and is easy to install and manage.  Continue Reading

• Object-based storage, cloud gateways best suited for archiving/backup

  Object-based storage has many of the features needed for cloud storage, but the lack of standardized cloud APIs means cloud gateways are often required to connect to the cloud.  Continue Reading

• The pros and cons of using data reduction systems

  Analyst Stephen Foskett outlines the pros and cons of using data reduction systems to slim down your data center footprint.  Continue Reading

• Calculating ROI for storage virtualization is tricky

  Calculating ROI for storage virtualization is difficult because it’s tough to determine soft costs associated with migrating data and managing disk arrays.  Continue Reading

• Cloud storage explained: Expert video offers tips, warnings

  In these videos from our Storage Decisions conference presentations, learn how three cloud experts define the strengths and limitations of cloud storage.  Continue Reading

• File sharing in the cloud enables users to ditch file servers, VPNs

  Users say file sharing in the cloud lets them get rid of in-house file servers, as well as reduce VPN costs and management.  Continue Reading

• EMC challenges Fusion-io for PCIe flash dominance

  Fusion-io remains the preeminent PCIe flash vendor, but EMC is fighting for supremacy with the launch of the VFCache, a PCIe flash caching product.  Continue Reading

• Defining cloud storage: The most popular cloud terms

  As cloud storage increases in popularity, there's a growing list of cloud terms data storage pros should know. Here are the 10 most-searched-for SearchCloudStorage.com definitions.  Continue Reading

• SolarWinds Inc. Storage Manager 5.0.1

  SolarWinds Storage Manager 5.0.1 monitors storage and virtualization systems, identifies performance bottlenecks and reports on storage performance across the infrastructure.  Continue Reading

• Emulex Corp. OneCommand Vision 2.0

  Emulex OneCommand Vision 2.0 is a storage I/O system monitoring product. The latest version is more scalable, has additional dashboards and supports more environments.  Continue Reading

• Fusion-io Inc. ioTurbine

  Fusion-io ioTurbine is caching software that targets virtual server environments, redirecting the I/O to enable VMs running on a VMware server to share flash storage.  Continue Reading

• Nutanix Complete Cluster

  The Nutanix Complete Cluster is scale-out storage that integrates compute, networking and hypervisors with storage. The system supports live VM migration and high availability.  Continue Reading

• NetApp Inc. OnCommand Insight Balance

  NetApp OnCommand Insight Balance collects performance-related data, models app and component behaviors, and analyzes the app-to-storage route for performance bottlenecks.  Continue Reading

• Brocade Communications Systems Inc. 1860 Fabric Adapter

  The Brocade 1860 Fabric Adapter can partition individual physical adapters into as many as 16 virtual HBAs or virtual NICs with flexible bandwidth allocation.  Continue Reading

• StorSimple Inc. 5010, 7010

  StorSimple 5010, 7010 appliances use SSDs to speed local performance for primary storage, and treat the cloud as a storage tier. Automated tiering and primary dedupe are included.  Continue Reading

• Gridstore Inc. GS-1000 Scale-out NAS Storage System

  The Gridstore GS-1000 Scale-out NAS Storage System uses a Virtualized Storage Controller architecture to distribute a virtual controller to each client connecting to the storage.  Continue Reading

• VMware Inc. vCenter Site Recovery Manager (SRM) 5

  vCenter Site Recovery Manager 5 is the first hypervisor-level replication product on the market. It can also automatically move virtual machines to a primary site after a failover.  Continue Reading

• Sanbolic Inc. Melio V3.5

  Sanbolic Melio V3.5 is a virtual clustered file system and volume management suite that serves as an abstraction layer between the hardware and the data.  Continue Reading

• Nevex Virtual Technologies Inc. CacheWorks 1.0

  Nevex Virtual Technologies CacheWorks 1.0 offers file-based cache, and has the ability to selectively accelerate I/O by app, file type and location with admin-controlled policies.  Continue Reading

• Brocade Communications Systems Inc. 6510 SAN Switch

  The Brocade 6510 SAN Switch has industry-first 16 Gbps Fibre Channel (FC) support, flexible port configuration and full-duplex 768 Gbps aggregate port throughput.  Continue Reading

• Infineta Systems Inc. Data Mobility Switch (DMS)

  Infineta Systems' DMS improves throughput on multigigabit WAN links for high-speed replication, remote backup, storage and server virtualization, and remote VDI implementations.  Continue Reading

• Archiving in the cloud: Asking all the right questions

  Are you considering archiving in the cloud? Learn the crucial questions to ask a cloud storage provider and how USC has implemented a massive cloud archive.  Continue Reading

• As the cloud storage industry grows, cloud certifications offer value

  With cloud storage implementations still developing, cloud certifications have the potential to give IT pros the advantage they need.  Continue Reading

• 2011 salary survey: Compensation grows for data storage professionals

  Our 2011 salary survey finds pay up slightly, with data stores managed and dedicated storage experience important cards to hold in the wage game.  Continue Reading

• Cloud case studies: Data storage pros offer first-hand experiences

  Headed into 2012, SearchCloudStorage.com has compiled a list of popular cloud case studies that showcase various implementation strategies.  Continue Reading

• Virtual desktop software aims to help storage VDI performance

  Virtual desktop software applications can help reduce storage headaches when planning and implementing a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI).  Continue Reading

• Storage virtualization solutions at the array or in the network

  Storage virtualization adoption quickens as early barriers are overcome. There are mature solutions available for deploying storage virtualization at the array or in the network.  Continue Reading

• Tiered storage model becomes more sophisticated

  Explore some of our popular content on the tiered storage model and tiered storage technologies such as automated storage and sub-LUN tiering.  Continue Reading

• Hybrid cloud management: Products, implementation and strategies

  Hybrid clouds are often regarded as an ideal solution for those looking to move to the cloud. We’ve gathered our best resources on hybrid cloud management to help savvy readers.  Continue Reading

• New memory technologies generate attention as successors to NAND flash

  Advances in phase-change memory make them candidates to replace NAND flash in enterprise solid-state storage, but it might not happen for years.  Continue Reading

• Hybrid cloud services and storage products: A buyer's checklist

  Hybrid cloud services and products offer a “best of both worlds” approach by bridging locally installed storage and cloud storage. Learn how to evaluate hybrid cloud solutions.  Continue Reading

• VDI implementation without boot storms for Ohio DoDD

  The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities found deploying VDI to be cheaper than replacing 80% of its aging desktops. See what approach Ohio DoDD took to implement VDI and how it avoids VDI boot storms.  Continue Reading

• Private cloud storage infrastructure technology options

  Enterprise IT shops designing private cloud storage infrastructures will find a plethora of commercial and open-source options.  Continue Reading

• Private cloud architecture: A blueprint

  Before creating a private cloud architecture for data storage, IT shops must decide on object, SAN or NAS-based storage and choose between primary vs. archival/backup storage.  Continue Reading

• Control VDI costs for storage by careful configuration planning

  Address virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) storage issues and costs by focusing on IOPS and configuration.  Continue Reading

• NAS technologies: Vendor landscape

  An overview of NAS technologies to help organizations make the decision between scale-up and scale-out network-attached storage.  Continue Reading

• NAS options: Pros and cons of scale-out and scale-up

  When considering your NAS options, take a look at the pros and cons of traditional scale-up vs. scale-out systems for storing file data.  Continue Reading

• Cloud storage options for primary or nearline data

  Learn about cloud storage options for primary/nearline storage and some of the new technologies that help bridge the gap between physical data center resources and cloud services.  Continue Reading

• Evaluating midrange systems to meet your data storage needs

  Midrange systems account for nearly half of storage array purchases. With so many choices, it’s important to match your needs to product capabilities.  Continue Reading

• The cloud washing game: Key functions of a private storage cloud

  Avoid falling into the cloud washing trap by learning the features that make a private storage cloud different, and better, than a traditional centralized storage network.  Continue Reading

• Enterprise storage trends: SSDs, capacity optimization, auto tiering

  Several enterprise storage trends are emerging at big and small storage vendors. Find out why certain technologies are trending and what they can do for your storage environment.  Continue Reading

• Hyper-V storage management options expanding

  Microsoft Hyper-V storage management tools are expanding from Microsoft and third-party vendors as the hypervisor gains users.  Continue Reading

• Hospital system addresses IBM SVC performance, stability problems with alternative configuration

  Spectrum Health breaks up IBM SVC eight-node cluster, taking uncommon tiered approach to improve stability and performance of storage virtualization system.  Continue Reading

• Storage performance monitoring in a sprawling, virtual world

  It’s important to stay on track with storage performance monitoring. Read these articles for the latest info on storage monitoring tools, performance metrics, and more.  Continue Reading

• Deciphering the Big Data storage buzz

  Gain an understanding of Big Data storage and find out what SearchStorage.com editors, analysts and users are saying about the buzz phrase.  Continue Reading

• Cloud ROI tips for finding the bottom line

  While there is no simple equation that can accurately determine cloud ROI, following the right steps can get you started.  Continue Reading

• Data storage startups to watch: Nimbus Data Systems Inc.

  Nimbus Data Systems Inc. is one of our data storage startup companies to watch. Find out why.  Continue Reading

• Data storage startups to watch: Nasuni Corp.

  Nasuni Corp. is one of our data storage startup companies to watch. Find out why.  Continue Reading

• Data storage startups to watch: Violin Memory Inc.

  Violin Memory Inc. is one of our data storage startup companies to watch. Find out why.  Continue Reading

• Data storage startups to watch: Veeam Software

  Veeam Software is one of our data storage startup companies to watch. Find out why.  Continue Reading

• Data storage startups to watch: SolidFire

  SolidFire is one of our data storage startup companies to watch. Find out why.  Continue Reading

• Data storage startups to watch: Drobo Inc.

  Drobo Inc. is one of our data storage startup companies to watch. Find out why.  Continue Reading

• Data storage startups to watch: Scality

  Scality is one of our data storage startup companies to watch. Find out why.  Continue Reading

• Data storage startups to watch: Avere Systems Inc.

  Avere Systems Inc. is one of our data storage startup companies to watch. Find out why.  Continue Reading

• Data storage startups to watch: Nirvanix Inc.

  Nirvanix Inc. is one of our data storage startup companies to watch. Find out why.  Continue Reading

• Data storage startups to watch: Atlantis Computing Inc.

  Atlantis Computing Inc. is one of our data storage startup companies to watch. Find out why.  Continue Reading

• Data storage startups: 10 emerging vendors worth watching

  The best of today’s storage startups stand out in the areas of solid-state storage, cloud storage, virtualization and SAN/NAS.  Continue Reading

• Understanding Big Data analytics

  Explore the four technology regions associated with Big Data analytics in our technical report.  Continue Reading

• Keep compliance data safe when using cloud archiving

  Legitimate concerns remain about using cloud archiving for compliance data, but many security and data location issues have been solved.  Continue Reading