Opinion

Opinion

• Parallelism can improve workload performance in the storage multiverse

  If a dimensionally compressed storage medium was a reality, all data could be stored forever. Until then, how parallelism can improve workload performance remains elusive.  Continue Reading

• Focus attention on a cognitive data management system

  Jon Toigo advises paying less attention to storage component stories and more to system-focused narratives such as a cognitive data management process.  Continue Reading

• Drowning in data storage capacity? Set it free!

  We're all guilty of data hoarding, and managing it is costing companies billions of dollars. The answer? Do a better job of managing all that useless data.  Continue Reading

• Hyper-convergence meets private cloud platform requirements

  Infrastructure choice and integration are fundamental to capitalizing on all that a private cloud environment has to offer your organization.  Continue Reading

• Be mindful when working with public cloud storage

  Some enterprises are using public cloud storage as a tier for secondary storage or archived data, but Scott Sinclair advises caution before taking the leap.  Continue Reading

• Use caution when dealing with data storage vendor buzzwords

  Data storage buyers must navigate through a complex maze of marketing buzzwords when evaluating data storage products before making a purchase decision.  Continue Reading

• NVM Express: Vendor-driven technology in search of a problem

  NVMe improves the performance of flash storage, driving consumers to use it for performance problems even if it only leads to minimal gains in latency or throughput.  Continue Reading

• What's in and what's out in data storage tech

  Cloud data backup, copy data management, DIMM, hyper-convergence, DRaaS and object storage are data storage technology given a closer inspection in Gartner's Hype Cycle.  Continue Reading

• When data storage infrastructure really has a brain

  Big data analysis and the internet of things are helping produce more intelligent storage infrastructure.  Continue Reading

• With on-premises storage, storage administrators must adapt or perish

  Storage admins show increased interest in and adoption of on-premises storage technologies such as software-defined storage and hybrid clouds.  Continue Reading

• Software-defined storage vendors make claims numbers don't support

  Industry analysts claim software-defined storage is lowering cost and increasing efficiency, but the fine print says otherwise.  Continue Reading

• Atomic storage offers speed and capacity, lacks intelligence

  Dutch scientists studying atomic data storage claim that 500 TB of data can be stored on one square inch, but data management remains elusive.  Continue Reading

• Disaggregation marks an evolution in hyper-convergence

  Hyper-convergence vendors are pushing forward with products that will offer disaggregation, the latest entry into the data center paradigm.  Continue Reading

• In enterprise computing systems, where's the Big Bang?

  The quest for a breakthrough in enterprise computing is challenging given that most hardware advances are evolutionary, not revolutionary.  Continue Reading

• Simplifying data storage technologies is hard

  All-flash arrays and hyper-converged storage are two technologies that make it tough to simplify data storage technology.  Continue Reading

• 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

• 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

• 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

• The need for application-aware storage

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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• Security top concern in online file sharing and collaboration

  As the online file-sharing and collaboration market grows, so does the opportunity for users and hackers to damage the data and reputation of firms.  Continue Reading

• Virtual data protection: Seeing is believing

  Virtual data protection is hard, but could be easier if you had a better view into what's going on. Learn how to increase visibility into your virtualization protection solution.  Continue Reading

• MRAM technology likely choice as post-flash solid-state storage

  NAND flash-based storage is becoming a common alternative, but NAND flash could soon be replaced by newer forms of non-volatile memory like MRAM technology.  Continue Reading

• Software-defined storage: Is hardware obsolete?

  All this talk about software-defined storage is conjuring up images of an eerie, hardware-free world.  Continue Reading