Tips

Tips

• Key QLC NAND challenges in the enterprise and how to tackle them

  Limited durability and degrading performance are issues with QLC NAND. These challenges limit where the technology can be used, making it best for read-intensive workloads.  Continue Reading

• Predictive analytics for storage: Benefits and product options

  The advantages of using predictive analytics in storage include less downtime and better resource utilization. It's no wonder more storage vendors are making it an option.  Continue Reading

• 2 storage tiering strategies for modern media

  Storage tiering makes a comeback as businesses aim to get the most out of their storage systems. Discover the rules for optimizing both intrasystem and intersystem tiering.  Continue Reading

• 3 NVMe-oF questions to consider when deploying the technology

  Deploying NVMe over fabrics is a relatively simple process. However, make sure to check out three important areas before launching this technology.  Continue Reading

• What's new in Microsoft Storage Spaces Direct?

  Microsoft has increased the capacity, resiliency and other advantages of the software-defined storage that comes with Windows Server 2019. Find out about all the benefits.  Continue Reading

• Data migration checklist: 6 steps to ease migration stress

  Following a detailed data migration strategy with extensive upfront planning can simplify complicated and labor-intensive SAN data migration projects.  Continue Reading

• 7 NVMe storage gotchas to avoid

  Avoiding common deployment errors when implementing NVMe technology will save you time, money and professional embarrassment. Here's what to look out for.  Continue Reading

• How blockchain storage could benefit the enterprise

  Whether your organization is a potential buyer or seller of blockchain data storage, the technology could change how you look at storage. Discover where blockchain is headed.  Continue Reading

• 7 misconceptions about the NVMe protocol and NVMe technology

  See what you need to know to avoid some of the common misperceptions about NVMe technology and making possibly expensive mistakes with your organization's NVMe architecture.  Continue Reading

• Storage Migration Service eases Windows Server transfers

  See how SMS eases the process of migrating Windows servers, simplifying the administrator's job and minimizing the disruptions to users and applications.  Continue Reading

• Hybrid cloud vs. multi-cloud storage: Choose wisely

  Stuck deciding between hybrid and multi-cloud? When it comes to cloud storage, it's important to choose the right approach for the task at hand, which will vary by business.  Continue Reading

• 6 steps to how blockchain storage works

  See how blockchain technology has the potential to provide a secure and reliable enterprise data storage environment with our step-by-step guide to blockchain data storage.  Continue Reading

• New NVMe interface specification focuses on management

  An NVMe management interface builds on the existing standard, allowing users to monitor NVMe devices. NVMe-MI may represent a significant step forward for the technology.  Continue Reading

• See how file system structure can drag down NVMe performance

  Find out what matters when it comes to file system design and how to prevent file systems from becoming bottlenecks to achieving optimal performance in NVMe-based storage systems.  Continue Reading

• How to prevent swap usage from hurting your NVMe devices

  Overuse of swap files can cut into the life span of your organization's NVMe-based drives. Find out how to monitor and limit swapping on your Linux systems.  Continue Reading

• 8 multi-cloud storage strategies that target performance

  Performance is an important aspect of using multiple clouds for storage but may take a back seat to the technology's other benefits. Are you missing out?  Continue Reading

• 10 critical multi-cloud and edge computing storage questions

  Combining edge-to-cloud computing with data storage is riddled with complexities. Luckily, there are steps to take that can help avoid a storage management disaster.  Continue Reading

• When traditional data center technology trumps hyper-converged

  Committing to a conventional data center rather than a hyper-converged approach is sometimes the smarter move. We take a look at some reasons to steer clear of HCI.  Continue Reading

• What is SAN zoning and what are the different types of zoning?

  Zoning can be set up according to server, storage and SAN switch. Discover what type of zoning to use, how zone sets extend SAN segmentation and about the various zoning schemas.  Continue Reading

• 8 steps to effective multi-cloud cost management

  Strategic thinking and careful planning can help you squeeze the maximum value out of your multi-cloud environment. Here are eight tips to help you get started.  Continue Reading

• 4 NVMe storage array options to consider

  Here's what you need to know to pick the NVMe array that provides your organization with the performance improvement it needs and also fits its budget.  Continue Reading

• How blockchain data storage may revolutionize the enterprise

  Blockchain for data storage promises to bring added trust, reliability and security to storage, but is it ready to become a mainstream technology? Experts offer their views.  Continue Reading

• Storage admin roles and responsibilities follow convergence and cloud

  With their jobs under constant assault, what must storage administrators do to stay relevant as data center technologies and the data storage world converge and change?  Continue Reading

• 5 tips for making flash-based SSDs work with unstructured data

  Using flash storage effectively for unstructured data requires upfront analysis of cost, capacity and performance, as well as continued tracking of a rapidly changing flash market.  Continue Reading

• 7 key questions IoT storage designers must answer

  IT teams must thoroughly understand their IoT data, including how it's managed and secured, as well as where it's collected, processed, analyzed and ultimately stored.  Continue Reading

• How a global file system interface eases data growing pains

  If reaching the storage limits of a file server is an imminent threat at your organization, a global system may be the answer to your data growth woes.  Continue Reading

• Cloud-to-cloud migration tools offer comprehensive services

  In a multi-cloud environment, data migration can take on a new set of complications. Luckily, there are a number of technologies available aimed at cloud-to-cloud data migrations.  Continue Reading

• Why upgrading to a Gen 6 Fibre Channel network is a good idea

  Upgrading to a next-gen Fibre Channel network provides the added performance needed to meet the demands of evolving technologies and workloads, along with other benefits.  Continue Reading

• 6 features your multi-cloud management tools should have

  When evaluating cloud management platforms, IT decision-makers should make sure they have these key functions and that they meet their organization's specific requirements.  Continue Reading

• Storage networking technologies explained

  Make sure you know the differences among network fabrics, such as Ethernet, Fibre Channel and InfiniBand, before making decisions about your storage network infrastructure.  Continue Reading

• PATA and SATA: The evolution of disk standards

  Disk standards have evolved over time, and while PATA and IDE may have reliability on their side, growing support and advancements for SATA may make it the preferred option.  Continue Reading

• Repurpose legacy storage systems for reliability and savings

  Planning to move to a new data storage platform? Before kicking your older legacy storage hardware to the curb, consider the benefits of repurposing your existing technologies.  Continue Reading

• Why object storage is becoming an alternative to RAID

  RAID is a well-established storage technology, known for being reliable and secure. But as data volumes grow, more flexible, effective RAID alternatives are gaining a following.  Continue Reading

• Storage Spaces Direct requirements you need to know about

  Microsoft's architecture uses commodity hardware to create highly available, software-defined storage. But success depends on following the vendor's rules and recommendations.  Continue Reading

• A deep dive into guest clustering for shared virtual storage

  When using shared VHDX files to host a guest cluster shared volume, there are some considerations to take into account, such as physical connectivity and potential limitations.  Continue Reading

• Four common SSD form factors and where they work best

  Solid-state drive form factors offer different benefits, from ease of transition to increased throughput. Four popular form factors are currently dominating the market.  Continue Reading

• MAMR hard drives could shake up the storage industry

  Microwave-assisted magnetic recording technology may be the next breakthrough HDD technology, promising lower cost and higher reliability than heat-assisted magnetic recording drives.  Continue Reading

• Edge computing technology can ease bandwidth pressure points

  Stockpiling data at endpoints makes sense in a growing number of applications. With storage at the edge, concerns about storage bandwidth and data costs can be mitigated.  Continue Reading

• Charge trap technology advantages for 3D NAND flash drives

  Flash drive cells based on charge trap technology are less likely to leak electrons than the older floating gate cell technology. But they have reliability issues to be aware of.  Continue Reading

• The storage administrator skills you need to keep up today

  To meet changing enterprise IT needs, storage admins must acquire a new set of skills. If not, they risk being bogged down in an outmoded, outdated career rut.  Continue Reading

• AFA storage tackles big data analytics challenges

  The latest generation of all-flash array storage is delivering the high performance and low latency required to support petabyte-scale big data analytics workloads.  Continue Reading

• How open source Ceph compares to Linux Ceph products

  Ceph software-defined storage is available for free, thanks to its open source nature. However, in some situations, a commercial Linux Ceph product could be the way to go.  Continue Reading

• Three multi-cloud deployment tactics that work

  Use standardization, as well as a centralized management tool and independent monitoring tool, to deploy a multi-cloud environment that's easy and efficient to manage.  Continue Reading

• SSDs vs. HDDs: When is all-flash storage overkill?

  The SSD vs. HDD analysis isn't as simple as it looks. SSD prices are falling, and capacities increasing. But HDDs are still a good deal and fine for many noncritical workloads.  Continue Reading

• Ultrathin memory storage device could spell breakthroughs

  According to its creators, atomristor technology promises a vast improvement on modern flash storage devices, but mainstream use may still be far off.  Continue Reading

• Four situations where a multi-cloud strategy makes sense

  Many businesses can benefit from using multiple cloud services, especially if they need to ensure reliability, protect privacy, remain flexible and optimize the cloud experience.  Continue Reading

• Reasons to choose Ceph storage over traditional alternatives

  The flexibility and multitude of interfaces available in a Ceph environment make it a tempting option and have some organizations ditching their current storage setup.  Continue Reading

• NVMe compatibility is key when transitioning SAS and SATA SSDs

  Getting ahead of the SSD interface performance curve requires foresight and careful planning. As NVMe technology evolves, new adopters are looking for ways to ease the changeover.  Continue Reading

• How to mitigate SSD vulnerabilities

  SSDs could pose a security risk for organizations that aren't careful when they decommission drives. Learn what you need to know about keeping data stored on SSDs safe.  Continue Reading

• Compare cloud vs. local archive benefits and drawbacks

  Local archives allow companies to use hardware they already own and save on cloud subscriptions, but cloud archives remove hardware maintenance tasks and costs.  Continue Reading

• 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

• 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