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• External storage might make sense for Hadoop

  Using Hadoop to drive big data analytics doesn't necessarily mean building clusters of distributed storage; a good old array might be a better choice. Continue Reading

• Building a better archival storage strategy

  This guide walks through important tips and considerations regarding storage archive design strategies and technologies. Continue Reading

• Crafting a data lifecycle management strategy to control capacity

  Jon Toigo explains how an information lifecycle management strategy helps classify data so it can live on the most appropriate storage. Continue Reading

• How DRAM or NVRAM cache can reduce flash SSD write amplification

  DRAM/NVRAM caching provides SSD systems with better performance while reducing flash SSD write amplification. Continue Reading

• hot data

  Hot data is a reference to data that is accessed the most by an organization. Continue Reading

• Definitions to Get Started

  • What is a SAN? Ultimate storage area network guide
  • FCoE (Fibre Channel over Ethernet)
  • Fibre Channel switch (FC switch)
  • SAN switch (storage area network switch)

  • unified storage (multiprotocol storage)
  • virtual memory
  • virtual storage area network (VSAN)
  • hot plugging

  View All Definitions

• cache algorithm

  A cache algorithm is a detailed list of instructions that decides which items should be discarded in a computer's cache of information.Continue Reading

• Hyper-V deployment: Focus on scalability and storage clarification

  Expert Brien Posey says to use private cloud strategy decisions when working with Hyper-V to focus on scalability and storage classification issues.Continue Reading

• soft zoning

  Soft zoning is used to allocate resources and control access in a storage-area network (SAN).Continue Reading

• When and how to implement an object storage platform

  Analyst Arun Taneja outlines what IT pros should be asking themselves to determine the best way to implement object storage.Continue Reading

• Express Bay

  Express Bay is an externally accessible storage slot that is designed to accept a high-performance PCI Express (PCIe) solid-state drive (SSD),Continue Reading

• How to avoid wasted disk storage capacity

  Jon Toigo explains how hierarchal storage management and other technologies can help make the most of disk capacity.Continue Reading

• cloud encryption (cloud storage encryption)

  Cloud encryption is a service offered by cloud storage providers whereby data, or text, is transformed using encryption algorithms and is then placed on a storage cloud.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

• Using the RESTful API as an onramp to object storage

  RESTful APIs are essential in moving data on and off of object storage systems. Expert Marc Staimer describes the three options currently available.Continue Reading

• deep archive

  A deep archive is a type of data archiving that refers to a storage location for data that will likely never be accessed again, but can't be deleted.Continue Reading

• hard zoning

  Hard zoning is used to allocate resources and control access in a storage-area network (SAN).Continue Reading

• Designing a private cloud storage architecture using object storage

  When designing a private cloud using object storage, you need to consider the data that will live on it, and how data will be migrated and recalled.Continue Reading

• read cache

  A read cache is a computer storage component that temporarily keeps a copy of data from a slower permanent storage location in order to accelerate the fulfillment of future requests for the data.Continue Reading

• HA storage (high-availability storage)

  High-availability storage (HA storage) is a storage system that is continuously operational or provides at least 99% uptime.Continue Reading

• Tier 1 storage

  Tier 1 storage is a reference to the higher performing systems in a tiered storage environment.Continue Reading

• OpenNebula

  OpenNebula is an open source management tool that helps virtualized data centers enable private clouds, public clouds and hybrid clouds.Continue Reading

• Big data storage challenges eased by metadata, caching and compression

  Systems that provide fast access to metadata, caching and heavy compression help ease media-rich big data storage challenges, Wikibon CTO says.Continue Reading

• Microsoft's SMB 3.0 for virtualization

  With SMB 3.0 included in Windows Server 2012, using Windows file sharing for virtual environments is much faster, safer and easier.Continue Reading

• delta differencing

  Delta differencing is an incremental approach to backup that only backs up blocks that have changed after the first full backup. The differences are recorded in files called deltas.Continue Reading

• Complete guide to Hadoop technology and storage

  Learn how Apache Hadoop works, some of its benefits and drawbacks, and what it means for big data and cloud storage.Continue Reading

• XFS file system

  XFS is a 64-bit, highly scalable file system that was developed by Silicon Graphics Inc. (SGI) and first deployed in the Unix-based IRIX operating system (OS) in 1994.Continue Reading

• Erasure coding tradeoffs include additional storage, disk update needs

  Erasure coding tradeoffs include requirement for additional data storage, need to update extra disks for redundancy purposes, UC professor cautions.Continue Reading

• Erasure coding brings trade-off of resilience vs. performance

  IT's decision on using erasure coding in storage rests on data importance, durability more than amount of data, says storage consultant Marc Staimer.Continue Reading

• Erasure coding definition: RAID 5, RAID 6 are most common forms

  Erasure coding definition: RAID 5, RAID 6 are most common forms; UC professor explains different types, appropriate workloads, product differentiators.Continue Reading

• Accelerate the performance of virtual machines with flash technology

  Learn where to implement flash in your environment to tackle virtual machine performance issues.Continue Reading

• Fibre Channel Industry Association (FCIA)

  The Fibre Channel Industry Association (FCIA) is an international organization whose goal is to help its members promote Fibre Channel (FC) technology.Continue Reading

• XAM (eXtensible Access Method)

  XAM (eXtensible Access Method) is a standard that makes it easier to manage fixed content by freeing data from dependencies on location, applications and storage devices.Continue Reading

• Storage considerations for a big data infrastructure

  Jon Toigo discusses what big data is, the popularity of object storage and how to determine the best storage for a big data infrastructure.Continue Reading

• cloud-integrated storage (CIS)

  Cloud-integrated storage (CIS) is a term that refers to a conventional storage-area network (SAN), network-attached storage (NAS) or unified storage system that tiers and/or caches data to cloud-based storage and treats the cloud storage as if it ...Continue Reading

• SCSI controller (Small Computer System Interface controller)

  A SCSI controller, also called a host bus adapter (HBA), is a card or chip that allows a SCSI storage device to communicate with the operating system across a SCSI bus.Continue Reading

• data destruction

  Data destruction is the process of destroying data stored on tapes, hard disks and other forms of electronic media so that it is completely unreadable and cannot be accessed or used for unauthorized purposes.Continue Reading

• ODCA (Open Data Center Alliance)

  The Open Data Center Alliance (ODCA) is an independent information technology (IT) consortium whose goal is to develop a unified vision of cloud requirements.Continue Reading

• Windows Storage Spaces

  Windows Storage Spaces is a feature in Microsoft Windows Server 2012 that is used to virtualize and provision storage.Continue Reading

• hot spare

  A hot spare, also called a hot standby, is a backup component that can be placed into service immediately when a primary component fails. Continue Reading

• semiconductor fab

  A semiconductor fab is a manufacturing plant in which raw silicon wafers are turned into integrated circuits. Continue Reading

• SAN and NAS storage trends include software-defined storage, flash

  Forrester Research analyst Henry Baltazar predicts the top SAN and NAS storage trends over the next five years.Continue Reading

• I/O contention (input/output contention)

  I/O contention (input/output contention), occurs when virtual machines compete for I/O resources because there is a limited storage bandwidth.Continue Reading

• Expert offers top tips on Amazon S3 vs. Azure storage

  Consultant Marc Staimer offers practical advice on comparing Amazon S3 and Windows Azure Storage with use cases for enterprise IT shops in mind.Continue Reading

• cloudware

  Cloudware is software that runs on a remote Web server rather than on a mobile computing device, personal computer (PC) or traditional on-premises application server.Continue Reading

• I/O blender effect

  The I/O blender effect is a phenomenon in virtualized environments that degrades storage performance.  The I/O blender effect occurs when multiple virtual machines (VMs) all send their input/output (I/O) streams to a hypervisor for processing.Continue Reading

• Understanding stripped-down hyperscale storage for big data use cases

  Stripped-down hyperscale storage provides rapid, efficient expansion to handle big data use cases such as Web serving and database applications.Continue Reading

• ODX (Offloaded Data Transfer)

  Offloaded Data Transfer (ODX) is a feature in Microsoft Windows Server 2012 that speeds up copy and move operations by allowing them to be performed by the storage hardware rather than the operating system.Continue Reading

• pNFS (Parallel NFS)

  The Parallel Network File System (pNFS) is part of the NFS v4.1 protocol that allows compute clients to access storage devices directly and in parallel.Continue Reading

• NVMe and SCSI Express emerge, defining specs for PCIe-connected SSDs

  NVMe and SCSI Express are emerging, defining specs for SAS- and SATA-compatible PCIe SSDs. We spoke with Mike James of SanDisk to learn more.Continue Reading

• Windows Storage Server 2012

  Microsoft Windows Storage Server 2012 (WSS 2012) is a platform for network-attached storage (NAS ) appliances and iSCSI storage systems.Continue Reading

• What you need to know about improving iSCSI performance

  Storage expert Dennis Martin discusses how technologies like Data Center Bridging, CHAP, IPsec and iSCSI offload adapters affect iSCSI performance.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

• auxiliary storage

  Auxiliary storage is all addressable data storage that is not currently in a computer's main storage or memory.Continue Reading

• cloud NAS (cloud network attached storage)

  Cloud NAS (network attached storage) is remote storage that is accessed over the Internet as if it was local.Continue Reading

• clustered network-attached storage (clustered NAS)

  A clustered NAS system is a distributed file system that runs concurrently on multiple NAS nodes.Continue Reading

• Cloud Data Management Interface

  Cloud Data Management Interface (CDMI) is a Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) industry standard that defines the interface that applications will use to create, retrieve, update and delete data elements from the cloud.Continue Reading

• RAID with SSD: A primer

  While RAID is still a storage standard, questions remain about RAID’s relevance with SSDs. This tip will explore the basics of using RAID with SSD.Continue Reading

• 2011 Storage Products of the Year

  These 18 enterprise data storage products rank as the best of 2011 and stand out because of their innovation, practicality and good value.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

• 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

• 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

• enterprise MLC (eMLC)

  Enterprise MLC (eMLC) is a type of MLC flash that has been enhanced to accommodate more write cycles than consumer-grade MLC flash offers.Continue Reading

• array-based SSD

  An array-based SSD is a solid state drive manufactured in a form factor that can be installed in a typical storage array.Continue Reading

• Shared SAS

  Shared serial-attached SCSI (SAS) is a method for attaching more than one server to a storage array via individual point-to-point or SAS switched connections.Continue Reading

• steady state

  Steady state is a condition in which a solid state flash drive has experienced enough program/erase (P/E) cycles that performance times for write operations becomes stable and can be evaluated in a consistent manner.Continue Reading

• server-based SSD

  A server-based SSD is a solid state drive that may be manufactured in a PCI Express form factor.Continue Reading

• managed storage

  Managed storage is the process of offloading an organization’s data storage requirements to an outside managed service provider.Continue Reading

• fresh out of the box (FOB)

  Fresh out of the box (FOB) is a term used in solid state storage (SSS) to describe a flash memory device that has experienced few or no program/erase (P/E) cycles since the device was manufactured.Continue Reading

• write amplification factor (WAF)

  Write amplification factor (WAF) is a numerical value that represents the amount of data a solid state storage controller has to write in relation to the amount of data that the host’s flash controller has to write.Continue Reading

• SSD form factor

  An SSD form factor is the size, configuration or physical arrangement of solid state storage (SSS) media.Continue Reading

• overprovisioning (SSD overprovisioning)

  Overprovisioning, in a storage context, is the inclusion of extra storage capacity in a flash solid state drive (SSD). The extra capacity is not visible to the host as available storage.Continue Reading

• solid state module (SSM)

  A solid state module is solid state storage that resides in a Dual In-line Memory Module (DIMM) or similar form factor. Continue Reading

• Solid State Storage Performance Test Specification (SSS PTS)

  Solid State Storage Performance Test Specification (SSS PTS) is a set of procedures for evaluating the performance of NAND-based solid state storage (SSS). Continue Reading

• SSD purge (solid state drive purge)

  SSD purge is the process of returning a flash memory device to its original state at the time of manufacturing and effectively erasing any data that has been written to the device. A purge is sometimes called a hard reset or digital sanitization. Continue Reading

• RAM-based solid state drive (SSD)

  A RAM-based solid state drive is a storage device that is made from silicon microchips, has no moving parts and stores data electronically instead of magnetically.Continue Reading

• write amplification

  Write amplification is an issue that occurs in solid state storage devices that can decrease the lifespan of the device and impact performance.Continue Reading

• NAND flash wear-out

  NAND flash wear-out is the breakdown of the oxide layer within the floating-gate transistors of NAND flash memory.Continue Reading

• solid-state storage UBER

  Solid-state storage UBER (unrecoverable bit error rate) is the percentage of bits that have errors relative to the total number of bits that have been read.Continue Reading

• short stroking

  Short stroking is the practice of formatting a disk drive such that data is written only to the outer sectors of the disk's platters.Continue Reading

• P/E cycle

  A solid-state-storage program-erase cycle is a sequence of events in which data is written to solid-state NAND flash memory cell (such as the type found in a so-called flash or thumb drive), then erased, and then rewritten.Continue Reading

• solid state storage auto-tiering

  Solid state storage auto tiering is automatically moving data that needs to accessed frequently to more expensive single-level cell (SLC) solid state storage and moving data that does not require frequent access to less expensive multi-level cell (...Continue Reading

• tunnel release

  Tunnel release, also called Fowler-Nordheim tunnel release, is the process by which data is erased from NAND flash memory.  Continue Reading

• flash-based solid state drive (SSD)

  A flash solid state drive (SSD)  is a non-volatile storage device that stores persistent data in flash memory. Continue Reading

• stand-alone solid state storage (SSS)

  Stand-alone SSS is solid state storage that is not integrated with spinning hard drive disks as in a hybrid flash array.Continue Reading

• client solid state drive (SSD)

  Client solid state drive (SSD) is a marketing term used by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and value-added resellers (VARs) to differentiate between solid state drives built for consumers and solid state drives built for the enterprise.Continue Reading

• solid state drive (SSD) capacity

  solid state drive (SSD) capacityContinue Reading

• conductive metal-oxide (CMOx) technology

  Conductive metal-oxide (CMOx) technology is a nonvolatile storage technology that works by moving oxygen ions between conductive and insulating metal-oxide layers within a single chip.Continue Reading

• queue depth

  Queue depth, in storage, is the number of pending input/output (I/O) requests for a volume.Continue Reading

• MO-297

  MO-297 is a JEDEC standard that defines the layout, connector positions and physical dimensions for a 54mm x 39mm solid state drive (SSD) with a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) connector. Continue Reading

• solid state storage (SSS) garbage collection

  Garbage collection, like TRIM, pro-actively eliminates the need for whole block erasures prior to every write operation.Continue Reading

• write endurance

  Write endurance is the number of program/erase (P/E cycles) that can be applied to a block of flash memory before the storage media becomes unreliable.  Continue Reading

• SNIA Solid-State Storage Initiative (SSSI)

  The Solid State Storage Initiative (SSSI) is an initiative formed by the Storage Network Industry Association (SNIA) to help foster and grow the adoption of solid-state storage in enterprise and client environments.Continue Reading

• IBM racetrack memory

  Racetrack memory is a type of non-volatile, solid-state nanotech memory being developed by IBM.Continue Reading

• tunnel injection

  Tunnel injection, also called Fowler-Nordheim tunnel injection, is the process by which data is written to NAND flash memory.  Continue Reading

• flash cache appliance

  A NAND flash cache appliance is a dedicated network appliance that resides between the hosts and underlying storage arrays.Continue Reading

• Storage Networking Industry Association

  The Storage Networking Industry Association, also known as SNIA, is a nonprofit trade group that promotes standards and technologies for the storage industry and offers education services, technical work groups and certifications for IT ...Continue Reading

• host-based replication

  Host-based replication is the processes of using servers to copy data from one site to another.Continue Reading

• Primary storage deduplication helps with VMs and virtual desktops

  Primary storage deduplication can supply dramatic results with server virtual machine images and hosted virtual desktops, but can lead to lock-in.Continue Reading

• desktop NAS

  Desktop NAS (network-attached storage) is a device that stores and serves the file-level data of networked computers.Continue Reading