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Bring yourself up to speed with our introductory content.
Get started
Bring yourself up to speed with our introductory content.
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
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desktop NAS
Desktop NAS (network-attached storage) is a device that stores and serves the file-level data of networked computers. Continue Reading
NAS Appliance
NAS appliances are commodity hardware that includes their own dedicated storage disks and RAID that can easily scale as more capacity is needed. Continue Reading
converged network adapter (CNA)
A converged network adapter (CNA) is a single network interface card (NIC) that contains both a Fibre Channel (FC) host bus adapter (HBA) and a TCP/IP Ethernet NIC.Continue Reading
storage capacity planning
The goal of storage capacity planning is to predict how much storage an organization will require so that just enough disk space can be purchased to meet the needs of users and applications.Continue Reading
Scale-up vs. scale-out network-attached storage
An overview of use cases and products to help organizations make the decision between scale-up and scale-out network-attached storage.Continue Reading
utility storage
Utility storage is a service model in which a provider makes storage capacity available to an individual, an organization or a business unit on a pay-per-use basis. The utility model is sometimes called metered services or storage on demand.Continue Reading
cloud storage appliance
A cloud storage appliance is a stand-alone computing device or virtual machine (VM) image used to move data from a local site to a remote cloud storage service provider. Continue Reading
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storage stack
A storage stack, also called an integrated stack, is a bundled storage product that include servers, networking components and server virtualization software. Continue Reading
cloud file storage
Cloud file storage is a storage service that is delivered over the Internet, billed on a pay-per-use basis and has an architecture based on common file level protocols such as Server Message Block (SMB), Common Internet File System (CIFS) and ...Continue Reading
hybrid cloud hosting
Hybrid cloud hosting allows organizations to provision dedicated servers and storage and cloud servers and storage on the same network.Continue Reading
cloud drive storage
Cloud drive storage is a term that refers to the ability to mount the storage capacity provided by a cloud storage service so that it appears to the server as a normal drive letter.Continue Reading
cloud washing
Cloud washing is the purposeful and sometimes deceptive attempt by a vendor to rebrand an old service by associating the word "cloud" with it. Continue Reading
green cloud
Green cloud is a label that describes the potential environmental benefits that information technology services delivered over the Internet can offer society. Continue Reading
automated storage tiering (AST)
Automated storage tiering (AST) is a storage software management feature that dynamically moves information between different disk types and RAID levels to meet space, performance and cost requirements.Continue Reading
Tiering storage primer: Data classification, archiving key
Ashish Nadkarni discusses strategies and tools when tiering storage, and how data migration tools and dynamic storage tiering products tier storage.Continue Reading
How to build an efficient data storage environment
Explore the areas you should consider when it comes to building an efficient data storage environment and learn the latest developments in storage efficiency tools.Continue Reading
automated data tiering
Automated data tiering is a type of software program that moves data files, volumes or blocks between tiered storage according to company-defined policy.Continue Reading
D2D2C (disk-to-disk-to-cloud)
D2D2C (disk-to-disk-to-cloud) is an approach to hybrid cloud backup that involves using local storage for staging data that will eventually be sent to a third-part cloud storage service provider.Continue Reading
Auto tiering crucial to storage efficiency
Auto tiering is a key technology for today’s storage professionals to understand, especially if you have SSDs. Find out what auto tiering does and why it’s important.Continue Reading
virtual LUN or thin LUN
A virtual LUN (virtual logical unit number) is a representation of a storage area that is not tied to any physical storage allocation. Virtual LUNs are used in thin provisioning (also known as virtual provisioning) for storage area network (SAN) ...Continue Reading
LUN zoning
LUN zoning is a method of configuring SAN fabric to match logical unit numbers (LUNs) to the proper servers. As a rule, end devices such as hosts can only see and access storage within their zone. Limiting access in this way improves security and ...Continue Reading
LUN masking
LUN masking is a further constraint added to zoning, subdividing access to the port so that only LUNs authorized to access a specific server can access the corresponding port.Continue Reading
World Wide Name (WWN)
A World Wide Name (WWN) is a unique identifier that is assigned to a manufacturer by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and hard-coded into a Fibre Channel (FC) device.Continue Reading
Storage performance monitoring for virtual servers takes app approach
Storage performance monitoring is moving from siloed tools toward overall system-health solutions. But some proven tools are needed in complex virtual environments.Continue Reading
Fibre Channel port names
Fibre Channel port namesContinue Reading
N_Port ID virtualization (NPIV)
N_Port ID virtualization (NPIV) is a technology that allows a single host bus adaptor (HBA) called an "N_Port" to register multiple World Wide Port Names (WWPNs) and N_Port identification numbers.Continue Reading
Virtual storage tutorials
SearchVirtualStorage.com's tutorials provide the in-depth learning information storage administrators need on the topics of data storage issues related to server virtualization and desktop virtualization; SAN and file storage virtualization; and ...Continue Reading
SAN-in-a-box
A SAN-in-a-box, also known as a SAN-in-a-can or a SAN kit, is a data storage device that includes all the basic SAN components are in a single package.Continue Reading
Network-attached storage (NAS) basics: A quiz for beginners
In our quiz on network-attached storage basics, learn the most important NAS terms, and the difference between NAS filers, appliances and more.Continue Reading
Virtualization capacity planning explained
Learn about virtualization capacity planning: the steps in virtualization capacity planning, how DR planning differs in virtual environments and vendors with capacity planning tools.Continue Reading
A guide on RAID storage devices for beginners
In our guide on RAID storage devices, learn how to chose the best RAID storage system, download our chart on RAID levels and take our RAID data storage quiz.Continue Reading
RAID data storage for beginners: A RAID quiz
Think you know everything about RAID data storage? Take our quiz and find out.Continue Reading
iSCSI storage area networks explained
In part two of our series, we examine the features of an iSCSI SAN to help you decide if it's the best SAN technology for your SMB.Continue Reading
The anatomy of a SAN: Fibre Channel SAN explained
In part one of our series, we examine the features of a Fibre Channel SAN to help you decide if it's the best SAN technology for your SMB.Continue Reading
Understanding cloud storage services: A guide for beginners
In this guide on cloud storage services for SMBs, get all of your cloud storage questions answers with the latest tips and expert advice.Continue Reading
Storage area network basics: A SAN quiz
Take our storage area network basics for beginners quiz and test your knowledge of SAN technology.Continue Reading
data life cycle management (DLM)
Data life cycle management (DLM) is a policy-based approach to managing the flow of an information system's data throughout its life cycle: from creation and initial storage to the time when it becomes obsolete and is deleted.Continue Reading
data at rest
Data at rest is a term that is sometimes used to refer to all data in computer storage while excluding data that is traversing a network or temporarily residing in computer memory to be read or updated.Continue Reading
NDMP (Network Data Management Protocol)
NDMP (Network Data Management Protocol) is an open protocol used to control data backup and recovery communications between primary and secondary storage in a heterogeneous network environment.Continue Reading
NFS Version 4.1 update: pNFS spec approved
NFS Version 4.1 (NFSv4.1) has been updated with the pNFS spec, and that means faster file service for data storage managers is on the horizon. Check out this three-part tutorial to find out now pNFS promises to improve file optimization.Continue Reading
driver
A driver is a program that interacts with a particular device or special (frequently optional) kind of software.Continue Reading
ADSTAR Distributed Storage Management (ADSM)
ADSTAR Distributed Storage Management (ADSM) is a collective term for IBM's family of high-end software that helps a customer manage the storage devices (such as mainframe storage, PC disk drives, and Zip drives) that are scattered around the ...Continue Reading
charge-coupled device (CCD)
A charge-coupled device (CCD) is a light-sensitive integrated circuit that stores and displays the data for an image in such a way that each pixel (picture element) in the image is converted into an electical charge the intensity of which is related...Continue Reading
autoloader (or stackloader)
A stackloader (also known as an autoloader) is a tape storage device that automatically loads tape cartridges using a robotic mechanism.Continue Reading
virtual SAN appliance (VSA)
A virtual SAN appliance (VSA) is a software bundle that allows a storage manager to turn the unused storage capacity in his network's virtual servers into a storage area network (SAN).Continue Reading
Data migration projects: Avoid data migration errors with automation, orphaned storage remediation
Learn the top three things users should do when planning a data migration project, what data migration tools you should have, describe some of the most common data migration errors, and describe some storage environment challenges when migrating ...Continue Reading
EDRM: Best practices when preparing for an e-discovery request
We list the nine stages of the Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM), and tell you why the preservation and collection stage is so important to data storage pros.Continue Reading
Thin provisioning storage brings utilization and capacity benefits, but with a caveat
Thin provisioning storage can deliver capacity and utilization benefits to enterprise data storage environments, but it's been hobbled by concerns over capacity allocation overload and sluggish support from major vendors.Continue Reading
Maximizing your enterprise data storage capacity: Improve efficiency and utilization
Learn how to maximize your enterprise data storage capacity by improving efficiency and increasing utilization of storage systems using a tiered storage approach; storage resource management (SRM), data classification and data migration tools; and ...Continue Reading
The expanding tiered storage model
The tiered storage model is growing, with solid-state drives (SSDs) at the top and cloud backup at the bottom. Find out how these two storage tiers can fit into your storage infrastructure, and learn about changes within the other tiers of storage.Continue Reading
disk-to-disk-to-tape (D2D2T)
Disk-to-disk-to-tape (D2D2T) is an approach to computer storage backup and archiving in which data is initially copied to backup storage on a disk and then later on copied again to tape.Continue Reading
Tutorials on data storage from SearchStorage.com
Check out these data storage tutorials on network-attached storage (NAS), solid-state drive (SSD) technology, tiered storage, Fibre Channel, storage-area networks (SANs) and more.Continue Reading
Data storage provisioning best practices
Best practices for data storage provisioning start with the need for the many stakeholders to communicate and coordinate so the process will be effective. The team approach will also help with the establishment of policies and rules, as well as tool...Continue Reading
Data classification fueled by e-discovery, storage tiering
Today's data classification products allow storage professionals more automation and the ability to take action on the information they tag and index.Continue Reading
E-discovery and building a document retention policy
Data storage managers need to address document retention policies and email archiving to build a comprehensive e-discovery plan. A litigation hold process should also be included.Continue Reading
Tiered storage tutorial
Find out what tiered storage is, the key technologies behind it, and how tiered storage can lower operational costs while improving application performance.Continue Reading
Virtual desktop infrastructure tutorial: Part 2
In Part 2 of our virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) tutorial, we'll discuss which new products promise to make VDI simpler.Continue Reading
Virtual desktop infrastructure tutorial: Part 1
Data storage is a major consideration for organizations implementing a virtual desktop infrastructure, from capacity planning to performance to costs.Continue Reading
MAID (massive array of idle disks)
MAID (massive array of idle disks) is a storage technology in which only those disk drives in active use are spinning at any given time...Continue Reading
wide-area file services (WAFS)
Wide-area file services (WAFS) is a storage technology that makes it possible to access a remote data center as though it were local. Among other benefits, WAFS enables businesses, academic institutions, and government agencies having numerous ...Continue Reading
Fibre Channel SAN switches tutorial
Learn all about Fibre Channel SAN switches with these articles on selecting the right switches and the best practices for managing FC switching environments.Continue Reading
Storage Tutorials
Storage learning guides take you step by step through the storage buying process and list the best practices you need to be aware of before starting any technology upgrade or implementation.Continue Reading
Best practices for Fibre Channel switching environments
To find the best switch for your Fibre Channel SAN, you'll need to determine the application throughput and I/O for sizing that SAN.Continue Reading
InfiniBand
InfiniBand is an architecture and specification for data flow between processors and I/O devices. The technology is most often used in high-performance computing (
HPC ) environments... (Continued)Continue ReadingSelecting a Fibre Channel switch: FC switches for your SAN
One of the key decision points for any organization building a SAN is which Fibre Channel switch to use to connect their servers and storage devices.Continue Reading
Sony/Philips Digital Interface (S/PDIF)
S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) is a standard audio transfer file format.Continue Reading
Multiprotocol storage explained
Multiprotocol storage provides block-based and file-based access in an integrated package to reduce cost and complexity without compromising functionality. Learn the pros and cons of multiprotocol storage for small-midsized businesses.Continue Reading
virtual provisioning
Virtual provisioning is a term used by vendors, such as EMC, to describe a process of efficiently provisioning space in storage area networks (SAN). (Continued...)Continue Reading
array-based memory
Array-based memory is an evolving solid-state storage technology similar to flash memory but with potentially greater storage capacity. The increased capacity results from the fact that array-based memory is three-dimensional (3D) while most ...Continue Reading
How to create Tier 0 storage by leveraging solid-state drive technology
With prices of solid-state drive (SSD) technology dropping, companies are starting to use SSD technology in a high-performance tier of storage called Tier 0.Continue Reading
memory
Memory is the electronic holding place for instructions and data that your computer's microprocessor can reach quickly.Continue Reading
holographic disk drive
A holographic disk drive is a holographic storage device that uses a laser to store data to optical media in three dimensions, maximizing storage capacity by using the media's depth... (Continued)Continue Reading
How many bytes for...
This page provides tables and other information about how many bytes are required (how much computer storage) for various information objects or purposes; it also summarizes some facts that have been gathered about how much information exists in the...Continue Reading
Kibi, mebi, gibi, tebi, pebi, and all that
Kibi, mebi, gibi, tebi, pebi, and exbi are binary prefix multipliers that, in 1998, were approved as a standard by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in an effort to eliminate the confusion that sometimes occurs between decimal (...Continue Reading
garbage collection
Garbage collection is the systematic recovery of pooled computer storage that is being used by a program when that program no longer needs the storage.Continue Reading
3PAR supports SATA disk drives
3PAR claims it will support SATA without a reduction in performance; Pillar to ship application-aware thin provisioning; Incipient gets $15.6 million in new funding.Continue Reading
HD-DVD (high-density DVD)
HD-DVD (high-density DVD) is an optical digital storage medium with a capacity that far exceeds that of standard DVD media... (Continued)Continue Reading
litigation hold (preservation orders or hold orders)
Litigation hold is a stipulation requiring a company to preserve all data that may relate to a legal action involving the company... (Continued)Continue Reading
file virtualization
File virtualization is the creation of an abstraction layer between file servers and the clients that access those file servers... (Continued)Continue Reading
storage consolidation
Storage consolidation, also called storage convergence is a method of centralizing data storage among multiple servers.Continue Reading
tape drive
A tape drive is a device that stores computer data on magnetic tape, especially for backup and archiving purposes.Continue Reading
Millipede
Millipede is a nano-storage prototype developed by IBM that can store data at a density of a trillion bits per square inch: 20 times more than any currently available magnetic storage medium.Continue Reading
nano-storage
Nano-storage is a nanotechnology approach to storage that seeks to radically increase storage capacities through a variety of technologies, and, ultimately, to replace current storage media with extremely high-density media and devices.Continue Reading
UDO (ultra density optical)
Ultra density optical (UDO) is an optical storage technology that increases capacities by using an extremely focused blue laser to write and read data.Continue Reading
Robson
Robson is a mass storage system similar to a
hybrid hard drive (HHD)... (Continued)Continue Readingoversubscription
Oversubscription, in a SAN (storage area network) switching environment, is the practice of connecting multiple devices to the same switch port to optimize switch use... (Continued)Continue Reading
storage provisioning
Storage provisioning is the process of assigning storage, usually in the form of server disk drive space, in order to optimize the performance of a storage area network (SAN)...(Continued)Continue Reading
carrier hotel (colocation center)
A carrier hotel, also called a colocation center, is a secure physical site or building where data communications media converge and are interconnected... (Continued)Continue Reading
thin provisioning (TP)
Thin provisioning (TP) is a method of optimizing the efficiency with which the available space is utilized in storage area networks... (Continued)Continue Reading
RAMAC (random access method of accounting and control)
RAMAC (which stood for 'random access method of accounting and control') was the world's first computer disk storage system... (Continued)Continue Reading
DASD (direct access storage device)
Direct access storage device (DASD, pronounced DAZ-dee), is a general term for magnetic disk storage devices. The term has historically been used in the mainframe and minicomputer (mid-range computer) environments.Continue Reading
megabyte (MB)
As a measure of computer processor storage and real and virtual memory, a megabyte (abbreviated MB) is 2 to the 20th power bytes, or 1,048,576 bytes in decimal notation.Continue Reading
Virtual File Allocation Table (VFAT)
Virtual File Allocation Table (VFAT) is the part of the Windows 95 and later operating system that handles long file names, which otherwise could not be handled by the original file allocation table file allocation table (FAT) programming.Continue Reading
hard drive shredder
A hard drive shredder is a mechanical device that physically destroys old hard drives in such a way that the data they contain cannot be recovered.Continue Reading
grid storage
Grid storage is a general term for any approach to storing data that employs multiple self-contained storage nodes interconnected so that any node can communicate with any other node without the data having to pass through a centralized switch. (...Continue Reading
Travan
Travan is a linear magnetic tape product developed by the 3M Company... (Continued)Continue Reading
CD-R shelf life
CD-R shelf life refers to the length of time that a burned compact disc will remain viable once data has been burned onto it... (Continued)Continue Reading