Tips

Tips

• 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

• AHCI vs. RAID: What you need to know

  Advanced Host Controller Interface and RAID are fundamental concepts you need to know to run an efficient data management and storage infrastructure. Learn the AHCI and RAID basics.  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

• 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