Opinion

Opinion

• Is the software-defined storage market efficient?

  The software-defined storage/hyper-converged infrastructure model offers promise, but also discussion as to whether it needs to be reimagined.  Continue Reading

• NAND flash technology is just the beginning

  NAND flash adoption has been as fast as the speed it offers, but faster storage techs such as 3D XPoint and phase-change memory are on their way.  Continue Reading

• Performance bottleneck plagues flash storage

  Replacing slow spinning disks with faster flash storage affords ample benefits, but it doesn't remove the bottleneck. It just moves it somewhere else.  Continue Reading

• Data management best practices convey data's real value

  Jon Toigo shares best practices for enterprise data management that can improve the value of your data, even as it's created in record quantities.  Continue Reading

• Servers and storage become inextricably linked

  The rise of flash storage and convergence technologies makes it tougher to see storage and servers as separate entities in a software-defined world.  Continue Reading

• Amazon Simple Storage Service spurs on-premises storage

  Amazon S3 has been such a smashing success that it will likely become the third pillar -- after block and file -- of storage protocols.  Continue Reading

• Data storage media fighting capacity battle … for now

  Though tomorrow's data storage media may store petabytes, today's data storage growth is staying ahead of capacity … for the moment.  Continue Reading

• Get the most from cloud-based storage services

  Enterprise data storage managers are in position to help their companies get more from cloud storage services.  Continue Reading

• When simple enterprise storage systems aren't so simple

  Enterprise storage system simplicity starts with the tangible benefits that data storage efficiency can deliver.  Continue Reading

• Enterprise data management starts with clearing clutter

  Jon Toigo examines why some storage vendors fall short in maximizing enterprise data management, and how one vendor's technology is enterprise-class.  Continue Reading

• SSD reliability, performance aid flash storage adoption

  Solid-state storage is most often viewed in terms of performance, but concerns about SSD reliability may be unwarranted.  Continue Reading

• Cloud appliances hold appeal, but don't ditch NAS yet

  Cloud appliances have nudged their way into the marketplace, leading shops into discussions about the role of traditional NAS arrays.  Continue Reading

• Data storage vendors offer speed, skimp on reliability

  Survey data tells us that data storage vendors promise capacity and performance in their storage systems, but reliability remains an issue.  Continue Reading

• Scale-out NAS design now rivals object storage

  Jeff Kato takes a closer look at ideal scale-out NAS design principles and vendors that are emerging with modern scale-out NAS designs.  Continue Reading

• Vendors, analysts guess future of data storage in 2016

  After Rich Castagna offered his look at the future of data storage in 2016, vendors and analysts shared their guesses on what will happen this year.  Continue Reading

• Bringing focus to the software-defined storage market

  Jon Toigo shares two reasons why you should not lose faith despite all the hype surrounding the software-defined storage market.  Continue Reading

• What's the future of data storage in 2016?

  Mike Matchett takes a closer look at the future of data storage technology in 2016 based on research from the Taneja Group.  Continue Reading

• Peek into the future of data storage in 2016

  As we enter into a new year, here's our look at the future of data storage with some serious (others, not so much) predictions.  Continue Reading

• Smart data storage types needed for future workloads

  Data storage types that offer a flexible infrastructure and intelligent data are proving more beneficial than speed or scale alone.  Continue Reading

• Storage acceleration and performance trouble IT admins

  Though storage acceleration technologies are available, Taneja Group research shows that IT admins still struggle with performance.  Continue Reading

• Smarter data storage tools needed for smarter storage

  Yesterday's data storage tools are ill-equipped to handle today's data storage needs, but a handful of vendors have new products that can help.  Continue Reading

• What tech could disrupt the dual inline memory module?

  The dual inline memory module marketplace may have to deal with emerging disruptive technologies from Diablo Technologies, Intel and Micron.  Continue Reading

• Multicore processors mark next era of storage

  Multicore processor technology represents not only next era in storage, but that everything old is new again.  Continue Reading

• Enterprise file sharing, shadow IT require swift action

  File sync-and-share has vexed enterprises, but it's time to fight back and get those files out of the clouds and off employees' personal devices.  Continue Reading

• Will today's storage tech be here tomorrow?

  It's hard to tell which storage techs will stand the test of time, but looking back at some of yesterday's storage technologies can help.  Continue Reading

• Software-defined storage vendors team, fate uncertain

  Hardware vendors and software-defined storage vendors are joining forces seemingly every day, but who will dominate the SDS marketplace?  Continue Reading

• Flash storage market remains a tsunami

  The flash storage market is poised for rapid growth into enterprise data centers as costs drop and solid-state drive density and capacity expands.  Continue Reading

• The hidden cost of SDS products

  Though software-defined storage products are praised for their cost efficiency and flexibility, many have overlooked the hidden costs for IT.  Continue Reading

• Cost savings for virtualizing servers not yet reality

  Though you've heard for years that virtualizing servers will save money, Jon Toigo argues that the cost of virtualization hasn't lowered.  Continue Reading

• Commodity hardware is a myth

  Software-defined storage vendors preach the concept of commodity storage hardware, but beware: the hardware is just as important as the apps.  Continue Reading

• Taking stock of the cloud storage market

  Rich Castagna takes a closer look at the impact of cloud storage, what's preventing more widespread adoption, and the potential of the technology.  Continue Reading

• VMware VVOLs could lift external storage systems

  VMware VVOLs could be the elixir traditional external storage systems need to gain ground on VM-centric storage and hyper-converged products.  Continue Reading

• Software-defined storage vendors must learn from their past

  For hypervisor and software-defined storage vendors to succeed, they need to chart a course that differs from that of their storage ancestors.  Continue Reading

• Data storage resources management gets respect

  Storage resource management has been overlooked through the years, but today a handful of vendors are pushing storage management software development.  Continue Reading

• Navigate data lakes to manage big data

  While the concept of data lakes appeals to business today, IT administrators must exercise caution prior to a full-scale implementation.  Continue Reading

• Smart storage key to moving beyond "third platform"

  The third platform of computing takes an external approach to data and applications, but data-aware technologies can add some insight to the storage process.  Continue Reading

• NetApp CEO Tom Georgens: Head in the clouds, gone in a flash

  Years of mistakes caught up to NetApp, costing CEO Tom Georgens his job; George Kurian takes over for the slumping storage vendor.  Continue Reading

• It's time to shift from data-dumb to data-aware storage

  With flash and virtualization technologies becoming readily available, the time has come for storage to evolve from data dumb to data aware.  Continue Reading

• Is VSAN 6 the next DVR, or the next Netflix?

  VMware's VSAN 6 could alter the way storage is delivered and consumed, but whether it is the catalyst that accelerates SDS adoption is still unknown.  Continue Reading

• Kicking the tires on the IBM z13 mainframe

  While the flashy new IBM z13 is impressive enough to bring mainframes back in vogue, the storage part of the story is yet to be told.  Continue Reading

• Could DNA storage be the future of data storage technology?

  Storage is moving out of the realm of magnetics and solid-state electronics and into the world of biology, or DNA to be specific.  Continue Reading

• Moving to all-flash? Think about your data storage infrastructure

  It's best to take a big-picture approach to your data storage infrastructure when deciding whether to enter the all-flash array marketplace.  Continue Reading

• Huawei, DataCore: A new hyper-converged infrastructure?

  Jon Toigo explores the renewed interest in software-defined and hyper-converged storage, and an important partnership between Huawei and DataCore Software.  Continue Reading

• Flurry of new data storage technology can bring confusion

  Confusion reigns in the storage world, as new data storage technology tries to find its place in the data center.  Continue Reading

• Solid-state storage technology isn't just about speed

  Solid-state storage technology can enhance performance and reduce costs across the entire IT environment.  Continue Reading

• The evolution of flash-based storage arrays

  Oracle and HP prove that it's just not a case of all-flash or hybrid when selecting a solid-state-enhanced array.  Continue Reading

• The struggle between virtual machine performance and storage

  Storage has been painted as the cause of sluggish VM performance, but it might be your hypervisor's fault.  Continue Reading

• Create a data archive strategy that resists the lure of clustered DAS

  Server-side clustered storage puts yet more distance between users and sound data management.  Continue Reading

• Vendors predict the future of data storage 2015

  The future of data storage isn’t easy to predict. While some vendors see it clearly, others prove that, going into 2015, their crystal balls may be a little hazy.  Continue Reading

• Out on a data storage market limb: Six predictions for 2015

  Our crystal ball tells us this will be a year of change for the data storage market.  Continue Reading

• Jon Toigo explains software-defined storage

  Like nearly everyone else, Jon Toigo has grappled with the definition of software-defined storage ... until he realized there are three.  Continue Reading

• It's time to redefine the enterprise file sync-and-share market

  Today's enterprise file sync-and-share products do so much more than synchronizing data that it might be time to re-think the moniker.  Continue Reading

• A wish list for the future of data storage

  Here's hoping for some clarity, standards, new tools and sanity in the new year.  Continue Reading

• VersaStack, FlashStack are more reasons why Cisco won't buy EMC

  Keep Cisco off the list of possible EMC suitors -- Cisco is too promiscuous a storage player to tie itself exclusively to one partner.  Continue Reading

• Smarter hardware will make software-defined technology work

  Some vendors are making hardware sound like an afterthought, but software-defined technology depends on hardware innovation.  Continue Reading

• Why a storage reference architecture matters in software-defined IT

  Software-defined and hyper-converged storage don't eliminate the need for vendor reference architectures.  Continue Reading

• Software-defined storage technology that makes sense

  A hypervisor-based virtual SAN might seem convenient -- until you run up against its limitations.  Continue Reading

• Figuring out the real price of flash technology

  Sometimes comparing the costs of flash arrays is an apples-to-oranges affair -- interesting, but not very helpful.  Continue Reading

• Yesterday's unified storage is today's enterprise data lake

  How unified storage needs to develop to support new applications and new data center environments.  Continue Reading

• Data management should be a go-to cost containment storage strategy

  If you want to exercise some cost containment, forget the hardware for a moment and focus on data management.  Continue Reading

• Specialized types of storage media make purchase decisions more complex

  The business of picking the right media for the data has become nothing less than a critical task.  Continue Reading

• Legacy vendors seek better footing in shifting storage landscape

  Flash, virtualization, cloud storage and commodity hardware have the potential to make IT shops more efficient and large storage vendors very nervous.  Continue Reading

• Expect a lot of hype about storage in the hypervisor market

  VSAN is here and Marvin is lurking in the wings. All of this makes the relationship between hypervisors and storage murkier.  Continue Reading

• All signs point to a maturing solid-state technology market

  Flash storage has moved from unruly adolescent to mature adult, but that hasn't hindered its development.  Continue Reading

• Commodity storage has its place, but an all-flash architecture thrills

  Some IT folks are trying to leverage commodity servers and disks with software-implemented storage services. But others want an all-flash architecture.  Continue Reading

• The need for application-aware storage

  Server virtualization leads to unpredictable workloads. Application-aware storage could be the answer.  Continue Reading

• Top five stupid storage technology ideas

  According to Jon Toigo, a lot of technology journalism tries to solve any IT problem with a convenient observation or fix.  Continue Reading

• What is software-defined storage, you ask? Ask Hillary

  If you're still trying to figure out the answer to this software-defined storage riddle, you're not alone.  Continue Reading

• Purchase criteria for all-flash storage arrays

  All-flash storage arrays share the common trait of being fast, but once you get past the speed, there's still a lot to consider.  Continue Reading

• Low expectations yield disappointing technology ideas

  Warmed-over or half-baked technology ideas might produce profits for the vendors that manufacture them, but they won't solve storage puzzles.  Continue Reading

• Shopping for data storage systems not getting any simpler

  You may feel like a mouse in a maze if you're shopping for data storage systems these days.  Continue Reading

• Deconstructing the storage algorithm

  Jon Toigo examines the four steps of the storage algorithm, and concludes that the current storage equation just doesn't add up.  Continue Reading

• Translating those misleading data storage terms

  Buying storage gear can be confusing, but if you put some effort into learning the real meaning behind vendors' data storage terms, it could also be a lot of fun.  Continue Reading

• SDDC means agile, not bulletproof

  There might be a debate over what constitutes a software-defined data center, but both sides need to include disaster recovery.  Continue Reading

• Data deluge could translate into an endless quest for capacity

  The universe of data, according to a recent report, is expanding and if we're not careful we'll all end up in a data black hole.  Continue Reading

• Think beyond simple sync and share

  Providing an alternative to public cloud-based file sync-and-share services is a good idea, but be prepared to expand services to other processes.  Continue Reading

• Next-generation data storage will help IT managers do their jobs

  When storage managers are asked about their challenges, data growth always tops the list. Next-generation storage technology could make a difference.  Continue Reading

• Stop the data storage presses, flape is here!

  Musing over a new acronym, we can see how, once again, what's new is really what's old.  Continue Reading

• FC technology use still leads despite Ethernet nipping at its heels

  Some have predicted the demise of Fibre Channel for years, but no networking tech has risen above it for mission-critical apps.  Continue Reading

• All flash technology, no substance

  Enthusiasm over flash technology has many being swept along in the inevitable wave of solid-state storage products coming to market.  Continue Reading

• The yin and yang of data storage technologies

  I feel like that little girl in "The Exorcist" whose head spins around; it's hard to keep an eye on where storage is headed these days.  Continue Reading

• Storage for virtual servers getting smarter

  New products designed from the ground up to specifically serve storage for virtual servers can offer dramatic savings in terms of dollars and the time spent managing storage.  Continue Reading

• Hybrid model offers more secure file sync and share

  The first collaboration and file-sharing services were cloud-based, but firms might be more comfortable with hybrid or on-premises implementations.  Continue Reading

• Software-defined infrastructure or how storage becomes software

  Maybe there really is something behind all this "software-defined storage" talk -- but maybe it doesn't mean what I think it means.  Continue Reading

• The future of data storage: Storage vendors' predictions

  It seems as if every vendor has a mystic on staff who can predict the future of the storage industry. Here's what they think we can look forward to.  Continue Reading

• NetApp customers still waiting for FlashRay

  NetApp this week delivered a new enterprise array, storage virtualization software and clustered Data Ontap -- but still no FlashRay all-flash array.  Continue Reading

• 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

• Virtualize servers for better data protection

  There aren't many reasons not to virtualize your servers, but there are plenty of compelling data protection reasons to virtualize them all.  Continue Reading

• Is a helium drive just a lot of hot air?

  Filling drives with helium doesn't advance the art of hard disk design, it just makes it possible to stuff more old tech into a new package.  Continue Reading

• Data storage industry: Buy, buy or bye-bye?

  Cloud closures, flash-in-the-pan solid-state vendors … storage might seem a little more dangerous these days, but it just might be innovation at work.  Continue Reading

• Stop counting megabytes; it's all about application-aware storage now

  Raw capacity numbers are becoming less useful as deduplication, compression and application-aware storage provide more value than sheer capacity.  Continue Reading

• Use of rogue online file-sharing services pose a real threat

  A surprising number of firms suspect employees of using consumer online file-sharing services on work devices to store and share sensitive data.  Continue Reading

• A look at the data storage industry: clouds, BlackPearl and helium

  Good-bye, or perhaps good riddance, to 2013, and welcome to a new year for the data storage industry.  Continue Reading

• Five things that should happen in the data storage market in 2014

  It's a new year and I'm newly optimistic again, hoping that 2014 brings a healthy dose of clarity and reality back to the data storage market.  Continue Reading

• Storage infrastructure management is still elusive

  There's more to managing storage than ensuring performance and scalability. New architectures are doing a better job of managing storage resources.  Continue Reading

• The need for a cloud exit strategy and what we can learn from Nirvanix

  The demise of Nirvanix drives home the need for a cloud exit strategy when using cloud storage services.  Continue Reading

• Forget software-defined storage; we need software-concealed storage

  Software-defined storage? Not for me, says Editorial Director Rich Castagna, who thinks we need less software with our storage.  Continue Reading

• How the future of data storage will stack up

  In the near future, data storage won't be a passive player as it integrates more closely with applications and workloads.  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

• Can we have an adult conversation about software-defined storage?

  All this talk about software-defined storage seems to be missing the point. Hasn't software always defined properly constructed IT infrastructure?  Continue Reading