Tips

Tips

• NAND flash memory technologies evolve to support QLC

  QLC NAND pushes the storage capacity of flash devices higher, but devices can wear out more quickly than other NAND types because more data can be written to the same cell.  Continue Reading

• Cloud migration planning tips: How to move data out of the cloud

  Most people know how to move data and files to the cloud, but what happens when you decide you want your files back? Getting that data back is no easy task.  Continue Reading

• When to use TLC NAND flash memory

  TLC NAND flash storage devices wear out quickly, and they're not as fast as MLC or SLC. But TLC devices are a good choice for tier 2 storage and read-heavy applications.  Continue Reading

• How to use REST APIs in Python

  Using REST APIs with Python can offer storage administrators increased flexibility in their management tasks, but they need some knowledge of how to code.  Continue Reading

• Three reasons to consider a multi-cloud storage strategy

  Storing data in multiple clouds is a fairly new strategy, but it's useful for companies that want to control cloud costs, protect privacy and ensure their data is always available.  Continue Reading

• Solid-state drive performance metrics go beyond latency, IOPS

  In determining performance and lifespan of an SSD, companies must consider the drive's architecture, the storage controller and write amplification in addition to IOPS and latency.  Continue Reading

• Beat VDI deployment challenges; find the best VDI storage

  Companies that want to stand up a VDI deployment can choose from a variety of storage options, from traditional storage technologies to more creative approaches, such as layering.  Continue Reading

• Gen 6 Fibre Channel helps support flash, but lacks adoption

  Sixth generation Fibre Channel has the potential to solve fabric-level bottlenecks, but companies tend to choose Ethernet because it has evolved more rapidly.  Continue Reading

• Back-end storage considerations for in-memory processing

  Storing hot data in main memory removes the latency associated with hard disk and solid-state storage operations; it's the best option for need-it-now data.  Continue Reading

• How to determine the true cost of flash

  If you want to add flash storage, it's important to consider the cost per IOPS and gigabyte compared to HDD volumes, as well as the difference between consumer and enterprise SSDs.  Continue Reading

• Compare XtremIO vs. Unity all-flash storage system for VDI

  Dell EMC offers two all-flash storage options geared toward VDI shops. One suits companies with fewer than 500 persistent machines, and the other is for larger deployments.  Continue Reading

• Four tips for building a Swift object store

  OpenStack Swift doesn't have to be scary. You can use the command line, zones and access control lists to make object storage management a little easier.  Continue Reading

• Everything you need to know about OpenStack modules

  OpenStack continues to evolve in an effort to compete with AWS. The modules that are available now make OpenStack a viable enterprise option.  Continue Reading

• GlusterFS vs. Ceph: Weighing the open source combatants

  When considering open source storage software, GlusterFS and Ceph share that designation and little else. Knowing how each option works can help in the selection process.  Continue Reading

• What to expect in OpenStack releases Pike and Queens

  OpenStack Pike, Queens and Rocky will include much-needed features and updates that will simplify user interfaces and improve the function of existing APIs.  Continue Reading

• Four private cloud design pointers to ensure success

  To design a successful private cloud, lay the groundwork: Plan beyond the five-year mark, determine who will manage images and make it highly available.  Continue Reading

• Optane memory: Opening the window on Intel's latest technology

  Now that Optane products are on the market, the future of fast memory for storage and processing looks bright. But will Optane match the claims Intel has been making?  Continue Reading

• Helpful steps toward an easy private cloud implementation

  There are many aspects of an overall private cloud infrastructure that affect your organization's cloud storage plans, and knowing what to look for is vital.  Continue Reading

• The status of NAND flash memory now and in the near future

  Flash memory chips have driven a revolution in storage, and faced a recent shortage because of huge demand. That's easing, and advances in NAND technology show a great future.  Continue Reading

• Start your hybrid cloud implementation off on the right foot

  Hybrid cloud storage has garnered a lot of interest because it offers cost savings and scalability. But there are some key concerns to think about before you dive in.  Continue Reading

• Object storage devices won't be pushing NAS out just yet

  Object storage is becoming more popular as the default storage choice for enterprises and large organizations. But it may not be time to ditch that NAS system quite yet.  Continue Reading

• Differences between SSD caching and tiering technologies

  Brien Posey looks at popular ways of using SSD as cache, including write-around, write-through and write-back, as well as how the technology compares with SSD tiering.  Continue Reading

• How to avoid common hybrid cloud implementation mistakes

  Companies that jump into a hybrid cloud deployment can make grave errors. Proper planning -- and understanding the drawbacks of going hybrid -- can prevent a cloud catastrophe.  Continue Reading

• Making a storage capacity plan that doesn't bust your budget

  Storage capacity is growing at a rapid rate and by using the latest innovations in storage technologies it is possible to meet demands without growing your storage budget apace.  Continue Reading

• NAS applications will change with greater SSD adoption

  As NAS technology changes -- with new software features and faster, all-flash NAS hardware -- its use in organizations has evolved into functions for which it was never suited.  Continue Reading

• Rethink the use of an object storage gateway for data migration

  Software options that allow data to be written natively to object storage may be better for your organization than gateways that migrate data to object stores.  Continue Reading

• Nine reasons object-level storage adoption has increased

  Scalability, performance and low cost are some of the motivations behind implementing object storage, but there are many more that have organizations looking at the technology.  Continue Reading

• Top three hybrid cloud advantages that can improve storage performance

  One of the benefits of hybrid cloud storage is offering organizations additional resources when workloads encounter unexpected traffic spikes.  Continue Reading

• Update NAS scale-out systems without a performance hit

  With proper prior planning, it is possible to upgrade existing scale-out network-attached storage without the process having a negative impact on overall performance.  Continue Reading

• The cloud storage infrastructure decision: Public vs. private

  Public and private cloud infrastructures are flexible, scalable and relatively low in cost. However, each cloud implementation has its familiar and lesser-known downsides.  Continue Reading

• How to choose a service provider for your hybrid cloud implementation

  Customers should evaluate the cost and effectiveness of a hybrid cloud storage implementation when selecting a provider to store their valuable nearline data.  Continue Reading

• Calculating flash pricing is key to all-flash array vs. disk decision

  Flash costs are nearing parity with hard disk drives, but it can still be a challenge to determine the exact expense for an all-flash array on a per-gigabyte basis.  Continue Reading

• Storage Spaces Direct builds on Windows Storage Spaces

  With the new Direct feature, Windows Storage Spaces can use local storage for failover clusters. It also supports JBOD storage.  Continue Reading

• How to implement a flash storage SSD in hyper-converged platforms

  Flash is everywhere, including the burgeoning hyper-convergence market. Get the pros and cons of flash storage types in hyper-converged systems.  Continue Reading

• Why the standalone EFSS market isn't going away just yet

  Enterprise file sync-and-share allows for simpler file access and sharing on the consumer and business level. Success stories like Box may indicate that EFSS is sticking around.  Continue Reading

• Why all-flash array vendors must offer advanced enterprise features

  As all-flash arrays become increasingly common in enterprises, IT professionals need to look not just for efficiency, but for important features, such as analytics and data protection.  Continue Reading

• Commercial Hadoop distributors bring HDFS improvements

  These three commercial distributions of Hadoop are alternative options for big data storage that can bypass data protection and performance problems common with HDFS.  Continue Reading

• HDFS architecture optimizes performance

  Hadoop Distributed File System architecture and its associated processes let the technology make better use of storage resources than many of today's enterprise storage arrays.  Continue Reading

• Hadoop data analysis: Common concerns with the HDFS platform

  Using HDFS technology as a data analysis platform may be insufficient for your storage needs. Explore the challenges storage administrators may encounter and find out how to address them.  Continue Reading

• Potential pitfalls with Hadoop data analytics

  Before deciding on Hadoop to tackle your organizations' big data analysis needs, review these points of concern, including data sources and sustainability.  Continue Reading

• Object storage architecture removes file crawl issues

  When dealing with large data sets, you don't want to use system resources to examine all files to get your information. Object storage, and its unique identifiers, eases the process.  Continue Reading

• Object storage vs. file storage for cloud applications

  Object storage systems have several advantages over file systems when it comes to storing cloud applications, including data protection, cost and scalability.  Continue Reading

• Hybrid cloud implementation preparation checklist

  Get a complete listing of the resources, use cases and requirements that need to be taken into account before starting a hybrid cloud deployment project.  Continue Reading

• Reasons to consider hybrid cloud integration

  Integrating a hybrid cloud into your storage environment offers a range of benefits, from backup to data tiering. Discover the variety of options to consider.  Continue Reading

• Software-defined storage market: Custom vs. commodity hardware

  One of the allures of software-defined storage is that commodity hardware can be used to lower costs. But a custom hardware vendor's offer may sometimes be a better option.  Continue Reading

• Five types of storage virtualization: Pros and cons

  Expert Brien Posey discusses five ways to virtualize storage in an organization. Review the pros and cons of each approach to find the best fit for your data center.  Continue Reading

• Base enterprise hybrid cloud evaluation on security, cost

  Explosive data growth has organizations looking at hybrid cloud storage to meet their capacity needs. But cloud costs and security issues need to be addressed.  Continue Reading

• Data reduction methods for virtualized environments

  Compression and deduplication are common data reduction methods used in virtual storage environments, but the technologies work at different storage levels.  Continue Reading

• Cloud file-sharing services: Get accurate benchmark results

  If you use cloud file-sharing services, you've most likely conducted benchmarks to see how they perform. This tip ensures you're interpreting the results correctly.  Continue Reading

• Cloud file services: Benchmarking considerations

  Cloud storage can save costs, but choosing the right service is vital. This tip covers important considerations when planning a cloud file services benchmarking project.  Continue Reading

• Server-side caching has new data center role

  Some server-side caching products have evolved into complete software-defined storage platforms that can aggregate flash across multiple servers.  Continue Reading

• Storage for server virtualization: Available options

  Every storage type has its benefits and drawbacks, but what is the best storage for server virtualization? Brien Posey discusses the different options for virtual environments.  Continue Reading

• Craft an effective data migration strategy for VMs

  To carry out a successful data migration strategy in a virtual environment, organizations need to address factors such as data structure and resource contention.  Continue Reading

• How to use the EVO:RAIL JSON file format

  The proprietary EVO:RAIL JSON file format can be used for hyper-converged system configuration, but administrators need to be extremely wary of errors.  Continue Reading

• Pros and cons of hybrid cloud architecture approaches

  Building a hybrid cloud architecture rather than purchasing an all-in-one system can result in cost savings, but the time needed to deploy is a tradeoff.  Continue Reading

• Data reduction methods for the all-flash data center

  When deploying flash technology, the most efficient system is one that performs data reduction techniques inline.  Continue Reading

• Top data lake architecture concerns

  While IT might be more concerned with the cost of its data lake architecture, data durability and security should be the most important issues.  Continue Reading

• Making the case to store big data in the cloud

  According to analyst George Crump, data type factors as to whether you should store big data in the cloud or in an on-premises environment.  Continue Reading

• How vSphere Virtual Volumes aid all-flash and hybrid storage arrays

  Using vSphere Virtual Volumes can help you manage legacy storage systems in virtualized settings, but all-flash and hybrid arrays can also benefit from their use.  Continue Reading

• Uncover the right RAID recovery service

  When RAID restores require more skills than can be found in-house, a RAID recovery service provider could be the answer -- as long as the right one is chosen.  Continue Reading

• Five enterprise file sync-and-share implementation pitfalls to avoid

  Some of the biggest hurdles when it comes to using enterprise file sync-and-share applications can arise during the initial rollout.  Continue Reading

• Docker storage and virtual storage requirements differ

  Docker containers and virtualization present some of the same challenges when it comes to storage, but identical Docker storage and virtual storage systems might not be the answer.  Continue Reading

• Four cloud-integrated storage drawbacks

  Cloud-integrated storage is a good way to move data to the cloud, but users should be aware of these four caveats before implementing the technology.  Continue Reading

• Four steps to crafting an enterprise hybrid cloud plan

  Before plunging into an enterprise hybrid cloud scenario, data storage administrators should model their preliminary planning after these four steps.  Continue Reading

• Five virtual storage platform tips for a VM environment

  Adding another layer of virtualization to a virtual server environment can complicate management and design. Here's how to avoid the pitfalls.  Continue Reading

• How to evaluate open source object storage

  Expert Marc Staimer outlines the requirements and risks associated with open source object storage.  Continue Reading

• Have flash storage prices reached parity with disk?

  Many vendors claim all-flash storage arrays have hit price parity with hard drive systems. George Crump explains what that means in this tip.  Continue Reading

• Examine your computing environment before you buy flash storage

  The decision to buy flash storage can overcome many performance issues, but other areas of your computing environment could be contributing factors.  Continue Reading

• Why a cloud storage architecture is a good virtual server option

  A cloud storage architecture can provide the virtual server connection your organization wants with fewer upfront costs and more flexibility.  Continue Reading

• Five pervasive flash-based storage myths

  Find out the top myths about flash storage today, where they come from and the reality hidden behind these common misconceptions.  Continue Reading

• How to configure a rack-mounted NAS in 10 easy steps

  Get the most out of your rack-mount NAS appliance by enabling permissions, network access and other advanced options.  Continue Reading

• Top five reasons to choose NAS vs. DAS

  DAS can be useful for specific applications, but NAS is often the better option because it can provide a greater number of storage architecture options.  Continue Reading

• Evaluating storage protocols for your virtual server environment

  The storage networking protocols available for virtual servers differ from those available for physical servers. Here's how to weigh your options.  Continue Reading

• Pick the best LUN size

  Is it better to create one large LUN or many smaller LUNs? The following guidelines can help you to pick the most appropriate LUN size.  Continue Reading

• How to become an internal hybrid cloud service provider

  Working on a hybrid cloud project? Mike Matchett explains the steps an organization should take to become an internal hybrid cloud service provider.  Continue Reading

• Software-defined storage architecture projects: Four concerns

  Is your organization about to undergo a software-defined storage architecture overhaul? We list the technology areas that may still present a few problems.  Continue Reading

• Signs it may be time to adopt a hybrid cloud strategy

  The cloud is gaining traction, but the public cloud raises security concerns. Learn why a hybrid cloud strategy can offer businesses more benefits.  Continue Reading

• How to compare software-defined storage vendors

  Software-defined storage vendor options keep growing. Expert George Crump sees the emergence of two distinct categories and notes products in each area.  Continue Reading

• Object storage system choice rests on architecture, connectivity

  As you consider object storage for your cloud environment, here are several areas to focus on when comparing options.  Continue Reading

• Object storage vs. block storage in the cloud

  Object storage isn't your only choice when it comes to the cloud. George Crump digs into the benefits of alternative storage technologies such as NAS and block.  Continue Reading

• Use policy-based automation to maximize your flash investment

  Storage automation tools offer a wide range of functionality that can benefit shops using flash storage alongside traditional disk.  Continue Reading

• Five key VMware VVOLs takeaways

  The highly anticipated VMware Virtual Volumes feature is now available, and increasing vendor support is expected over the next 18 months.  Continue Reading

• Four tips to maximize the lifespan of your flash memory storage

  The lifespan of flash memory storage is not the hot-button issue it once was, but you should perform these tasks to prolong the life of your drives.  Continue Reading

• Three reasons why object storage is a good HDFS alternative

  HDFS manages data across dispersed nodes, but an object storage system that leverages commodity storage can be a compelling alternative.  Continue Reading

• Seamless data movement is the next key all-flash storage array feature

  Find out why seamless data movement between all-flash and hard disk storage arrays will be the next significant trend that will drive adoption.  Continue Reading

• All-flash array comparison: The keys to performance, capacity success

  Analyst George Crump provides tips on selecting an all-flash storage array that meets your environment's performance and capacity needs.  Continue Reading

• What you should know about using flash to complement DRAM

  George Crump discusses emerging technology that enables using flash as memory, why it matters and its applicable use cases.  Continue Reading

• Tiering vs. caching in flash-based storage systems

  George Crump compares tiering and caching in flash-based storage systems and explains the pros and cons of each in this tip.  Continue Reading

• What happened to the promise of faster flash performance?

  Leah Schoeb of Evaluator Group explains how infrastructure limitations can limit flash performance when deploying solid-state storage.  Continue Reading

• When private clouds reach compute capacity, consider cloud bursting

  Cloud bursting may have received some hype for its potential in the enterprise, but there are a few factors you should consider before bursting to the public cloud.  Continue Reading

• Six questions to ensure smooth retrieval of cloud-based data

  Analyst Arun Taneja explains why the first step in moving data to the cloud is to determine how easy it will be to extract it.  Continue Reading

• Q&A: Choosing between all-flash arrays and hybrid arrays

  SearchSolidStateStorage managing editor Ed Hannan and independent storage expert Andrew Reichman compare all-flash and hybrid flash arrays in this Q&A.  Continue Reading

• Storage networking catching up to SSD performance

  Leah Schoeb of Evaluator Group discusses storage networking advancements that are enabling apps to take full advantage of SSD performance.  Continue Reading

• Archiving methods: Smart meta tags, archive in place and FLAPE

  Jon Toigo outlines several archiving techniques, the technologies that make them run smoothly, and explains why data classification is crucial.  Continue Reading

• Use storage system features to granularly manage virtual machines

  Arun Taneja explains the importance of managing storage granularly and which vendors are meeting the demand for VM-level visibility.  Continue Reading

• Make sure your flash investment pays off

  Colm Keegan of Storage Switzerland discusses ways to ensure your flash investment meets your needs --now and in the future.  Continue Reading

• Choosing between scale-up and scale-out all-flash arrays

  Eric Slack of Storage Switzerland compares scale-up and scale-out arrays in this tip, and explains the use cases for each.  Continue Reading

• Learn the benefits of converged infrastructure systems

  Converged infrastructures bundle compute, storage and networking into a single offering that can be deployed quickly. Find out what else they can do.  Continue Reading

• Allocate virtual desktop hardware resources with proper benchmarking

  Benchmarking is crucial to ensuring VDI performance, but is only effective if spikes in demand are accounted for at the outset.  Continue Reading

• Top five VDI use cases and their effect on storage

  As VDI technology matures, more user interest is growing. Expert Brien Posey discusses five use cases where VDI works best.  Continue Reading