Storage architecture and strategy
Top Stories
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News
19 Nov 2024
Microsoft Ignite sparks third-party storage, backup offers
A flurry of storage and backup news has emerged around Microsoft Ignite, including from Dell, as it looks to support hybrid cloud customers and establish solid footing with Azure. Continue Reading
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News
18 Nov 2024
Storj CEO Winegar: Distributed storage uptake big in 2025
The new CEO looks to increase enterprise adoption of distributed storage with SOC 2 compliance and new capabilities. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
03 Jun 2015
Violin still searching for right notes
The red hot all-flash array remains ice cold for Violin Memory. Violin reported revenue of $12.1 million for last quarter. That was down 33.3 percent from last year and 41 percent from last ... Continue Reading
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Blog Post
11 May 2015
Quantum expects to scale StorNext products, sales this year
Quantum’s forecast for the next year includes more StorNext and scale-out archiving products, sales and vertical markets. The sales bump has already started. Quantum last week reported its ... Continue Reading
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News
05 May 2015
Nexenta Systems CEO discusses upcoming product launches
Nexenta Systems CEO says NexentaEdge object storage demo will happen at upcoming OpenStack Summit, NexentaFusion management beta launch will follow Continue Reading
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Answer
28 Apr 2015
What are protocol endpoints in vSphere VVOLs and how do they work?
VMware's new VVOLs feature allows storage functionality to be distributed on a per-VM basis. Protocol endpoints are integral to proper allocation. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
23 Apr 2015
EMC storage revs down, reflect industry transformation
EMC came up $75 million short of its projected storage revenue last quarter, according to its Wednesday earnings report. No big surprise there. EMC and other large storage vendors have struggled to ... Continue Reading
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Blog Post
16 Apr 2015
EMC: Information glut will change what storage looks like
There’s a lot of data out there, and there’s going to be even more in the future, and businesses need to figure out better ways to use and deliver it because the always-connected “information ... Continue Reading
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Blog Post
14 Apr 2015
IBM says it can put 220 terabytes in the palm of your hand
IBM is working on putting 220 terabytes of storage in a palm-sized tape cartridge. The company has developed breakthrough technology that shrinks the size of bits for magnetic tape and offers ... Continue Reading
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Photo Story
31 Mar 2015
Five ways VDI technology is affected by storage
Managing storage for your VDI infrastructure has progressed, but there are still some snags. Here are five ways to avoid VDI environment issues. Continue Reading
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Definition
10 Mar 2015
orthogonal
Orthogonal concepts have their roots in advanced mathematics. They are also associated with software development, storage and networking. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
28 Feb 2015
Fibre Channel helps Nimble Storage grow revenue in Q4
Nimble Storage exceeded expectations with $68.3 million in revenue in its fiscal fourth quarter, helped by a new wave of Fibre Channel-based arrays that factored into about 10% of the company’s ... Continue Reading
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Blog Post
26 Feb 2015
Dell to ship 2nd wave of XC Series hyper-converged appliances
Dell plans to ship the second version of its XC Series of hyper-converged appliances next week, just four months after getting the first wave of products out the door in November. The XC Series ... Continue Reading
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Blog Post
12 Feb 2015
NetApp blames sales slump on budget restraints
A rocky quarter with a disappointing forecast for this quarter left NetApp CEO Tom Georgens defensive about his company’s product portfolio and strategy. NetApp Wednesday reported $1.55 billion in ... Continue Reading
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Blog Post
09 Feb 2015
Veritas Rising
Appropriately, Symantec will call its new information management spinout Veritas Technologies Corp. The company will consist of many products from the original Veritas, which Symantec acquired in ... Continue Reading
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Blog Post
30 Jan 2015
CommVault now sees a point in smaller bundles
For years, CommVault boasted about how it sold one application that handled all data protection and management needs. That is changing, as its tries to perk up tepid financial growth in a more ... Continue Reading
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Blog Post
27 Jan 2015
How stealthy money affects technology
By my count, around 70 storage start-up companies were acquired in the past year. That is quite a few acquisitions, although not as many as in some past years. A surge in acquisitions always leads ... Continue Reading
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Answer
20 Jan 2015
When should I use global file locking in the cloud?
According to analyst George Crump, global file locking isn't required for single-office cloud users, but for multisite organizations it is a top requirement in a cloud service. Continue Reading
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Answer
06 Jan 2015
How do hardware profiles work in Microsoft Virtual Machine Manager?
The Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager allows the creation of hardware profiles, which help to provision virtual storage. Brien Posey explains how to use the tool. Continue Reading
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Answer
15 Dec 2014
What are the benefits of using the Boot to VHD feature?
Boot to VHD may be seen as a novelty feature, but it also has practical uses in the workplace. Brien Posey explains in this expert answer. Continue Reading
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Answer
20 Nov 2014
What are the most obvious object storage use cases for my system?
Object storage is latency-prone, making it a bad option for production data, but there are several areas where it's incredibly useful. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Nov 2014
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
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Answer
17 Nov 2014
What are the benefits of using an object storage system with file access?
With increasingly demanding workloads, NAS systems can have a hard time keeping up. Can using NAS with an object storage option relieve some of these problems? Continue Reading
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Answer
19 Sep 2014
What complications can arise when thin provisioning VMware storage?
Brien Posey dives into the complications users might run into with thinly provisioned VMware data stores and how to address them. Continue Reading
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Answer
28 Aug 2014
How do I increase cache memory?
Increasing cache memory in your environment might help allocate CPU processes, but it doesn't necessarily result in better performance. Continue Reading
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Answer
25 Aug 2014
What is the difference between a storage snapshot and a clone?
Cloning and snapshotting can both be good approaches to disaster recovery. Learn what environments are best suited to each. Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Aug 2014
Keys to a painless data migration process
Moving data from array to array has always been a difficult process, but new techs and techniques make your data migration process easier than ever. Continue Reading
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Answer
31 Jul 2014
How do VMware thin provisioning alerts work?
VSphere allows users to set up custom alarms to alert them when capacity or memory is low. Learn how they can be especially helpful when using thin provisioning. Continue Reading
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Answer
31 Jul 2014
Are there any downsides to using VMware thin provisioning?
Storage should be monitored carefully when using VMware's thin provisioning feature to avoid slower performance and potentially maxing out capacity. Continue Reading
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Feature
05 Jun 2014
Six things that can wreck storage system performance
Performance bottlenecks can occur in different places in a storage system. Here's how to identify and eliminate them. Continue Reading
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Answer
30 Apr 2014
Why isn't Windows Server allowing me to create a storage tier?
Microsoft expert and SearchStorage.com contributor Brien Posey addresses key challenges to creating storage tiers in Windows Server 2012 R2. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Mar 2014
Hypervisor comparison: VMware vs. Microsoft vs. Red Hat
VMware has had the dominant enterprise-class hypervisor, but there are others worth reviewing. This tip details how Microsoft and Red Hat compete. Continue Reading
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Answer
17 Feb 2014
What is the top storage challenge with in-memory databases?
Wikibon CTO David Floyer said the greatest challenge with an in-memory database from a storage perspective is recovery in the event of a problem. Continue Reading
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Guide
29 Jan 2014
Building a better archival storage strategy
This guide walks through important tips and considerations regarding storage archive design strategies and technologies. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Dec 2013
Alternatives to RESTful API for accessing object storage
This tip examines other options for connecting to object storage when an application isn't compatible with the RESTful API. Continue Reading
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Answer
31 Dec 2013
Is there a difference between traditional tiering and sub-LUN tiering?
Sub-LUN tiering can help with performance in some environments, but according to analyst Jon Toigo, it can also get complicated with growing capacity. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Dec 2013
Using the RESTful API as an onramp to object storage
RESTful APIs are essential in moving data on and off of object storage systems. Expert Marc Staimer describes the three options currently available. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Oct 2013
Hyper-V storage best practices to optimize your virtual environment
Microsoft expert Brien Posey walks through the best storage tips and features to make the most out of a Hyper-V environment. Continue Reading
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Answer
07 Aug 2013
How does storage thin provisioning work with Hyper-V automatic trim?
Learn how Windows Server 2012 R2's automatic trim feature frees up capacity from thinly provisioned virtual hard disks. Continue Reading
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Guide
02 Jul 2013
Managing data with an object storage system
Use this guide to understand everything you need to know about object storage systems as they gain popularity in big data and cloud environments. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Jun 2013
Top tips for OpenStack Swift object storage use
Senior cloud architect Beth Cohen offers tips on how to use OpenStack Swift object storage in the most efficient and economical ways. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 May 2013
RAID alternatives: Will erasure codes rule?
Learn why the reliability of RAID technologies could be related to the increased use of erasure coding by both new and established storage vendors. Continue Reading
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Answer
16 May 2013
Can object storage systems be used with file-based apps?
Learn how to use applications such as Microsoft Exchange or SQL Server with object storage systems on the back end. Continue Reading
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Answer
15 May 2013
How can host-based and array-based data replication techniques be compared?
Learn the benefits and drawbacks to host-based and array-based replication methods to determine which one better suits your environment. Continue Reading
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Answer
14 May 2013
Storage thin provisioning: Comparing implementation types
Analyst Erick Slack explains how to create a thin volume, migrate from thick to thin provisioning and determine when to use thin provisioning. Continue Reading
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Feature
03 May 2013
10 ways to improve virtual server storage
Virtual server storage operations can have a profound effect on the storage network. Here are 10 ways to help ensure that your storage yields its best I/O for the VMs it supports. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Apr 2013
PowerShell tutorial: Managing Windows Storage Spaces
This PowerShell tutorial shows users how to fully interact with Windows Storage Spaces, which will help them script the storage provisioning process. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Apr 2013
Five LUN storage questions for pros
Learn what expert Brien Posey has to say to storage administrators about five questions they have about LUN storage in their environments. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Mar 2013
Microsoft VHDX format: Understanding benefits, conversion process
Virtualization expert David Davis explains how the new VHDX format in Windows Server 2012 has improved environments, and how to convert old VHD files. Continue Reading
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Podcast
18 Jan 2013
RHEV 3.1 storage: Functionality and considerations
Virtualization expert Sander van Vugt explains how RHEV storage works and discusses some of the new storage features in version 3.1. Continue Reading
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Feature
31 Aug 2012
The storage-for-VDI equation: Capacity, IOPS, TCO, ROI and persistency
A virtual desktop project can bring savings and efficiency to IT operations, but storage for VDI is a complex issue, and the wrong choices can hobble the project. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Jul 2012
Advantages of using an object storage system
Learn the advantages of implementing an object storage system in your data storage environment. Continue Reading
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Answer
29 Jun 2012
Persistent VDI vs. non-persistent VDI and their effect on storage resources
Learn the difference between persistent VDI and non-persistent VDI, how they affect storage and which one carries advantages in terms of capacity and backup requirements. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Jan 2012
How to implement storage virtualization technology at the server level
Learn about storage virtualization technology at the server-, or host, level, including info on products from Virsto, VMware, DataCore, LeftHand and FalconStor. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Jan 2012
Block-level storage virtualization: Reasons to implement it
Learn about the reasons to implement block-level storage virtualization, in Part 1 of a four-part series. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Nov 2011
I/O performance in need of a fix
Despite technological advances, unacceptable I/O performance could hold the entire industry back. Here are some solutions that have materialized. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
22 Aug 2011
Dell adds 2.5-inch SAS, MLC SSDs to EqualLogic
Dell revamped its EqualLogic iSCSI SAN hardware today, adding new entry-level and midrange platforms with support for 2.5-inch SAS drives and multi-level cell (MLC) solid state drives (SSDs) for ... Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Jun 2011
Storage vMotion: Application and performance
In this tip, learn how Storage vMotion operates, its uses, its system requirements and the steps to take to perform a Storage vMotion. Continue Reading
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Feature
18 Apr 2011
Storage virtualization products: An important niche
Storage virtualization products help IT shops in need of non-disruptive data migration, tech refreshes and life support for aging storage assets. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Oct 2010
Understanding storage performance metrics
Learn how to accurately measure storage performance metrics in your data storage system, and discover why your results may differ from vendor benchmark numbers. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Mar 2010
Data storage capacity planning: How to estimate your storage requirements
SMBs should ask themselves these five questions to help them get started with their data storage capacity planning. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Mar 2010
Data storage management strategies: Managing logical unit numbers (LUNs)
This tip explores the background of LUNs in an SMB data storage environment, the different LUN features vendors have to offer and how to determine what type of LUN is best for you. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
15 Oct 2009
Thin provisioning storage brings utilization and capacity benefits, but with a caveat
Thin provisioning storage can deliver capacity and utilization benefits to enterprise data storage environments, but it's been hobbled by concerns over capacity allocation overload and sluggish support from major vendors. Continue Reading
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Report
03 Sep 2009
Troubleshooting and identifying data storage performance bottlenecks
Enterprise data storage performance bottlenecks that can clog ports, controllers and disk drives require a mix of tools and IT expertise to find and solve. Learn how to troubleshoot the most common storage bottlenecks and how you can avoid them. Continue Reading
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News
18 Jun 2009
Tiered storage, data reduction technologies manage capacity growth for companies as IT budgets shrin
To manage capacity growth, Clackamas County tiers storage using F5 ARX switch and Data Domain devices; Rainmaker Entertainment blends BlueArc Titan, Isilon IQ NAS and Ocarina ECO appliance to dedupe and archive data. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
18 Jun 2009
Tutorials on data storage from SearchStorage.com
Check out these data storage tutorials on network-attached storage (NAS), solid-state drive (SSD) technology, tiered storage, Fibre Channel, storage-area networks (SANs) and more. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
24 Feb 2009
Virtual desktop infrastructure tutorial: Part 2
In Part 2 of our virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) tutorial, we'll discuss which new products promise to make VDI simpler. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Jun 2008
For an SMB, what are the advantages and disadvantages of an in-house email archiving system vs. a ho
There are a lot of pros and cons for both at all business sizes. But SMBs tend to be more price and administration sensitive. In other words, if you are a company that has an annual IT budget from $10,000 to $100,000, you simply can not go out and buy an email archiving system that costs a million. It's just not going to happen. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Jul 2007
Using SAS and SATA for tiered storage
This podcast offers detailed information about SAS and SATA so you can strike the right balance between SAS and SATA in a tiered storage environment. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Apr 2007
Storage virtualization: Where and how
This tip outlines the various locations to implement storage virtualization functionality, the different approaches to storage virtualization and offers suggestions on how to choose the right approach for your environment. Continue Reading
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News
18 Jan 2007
Brocade migration tool does the trick for EMC user
The University of New Mexico Hospital first tried EMC's SANCopy to migrate data off of an old Xiotech array, but ended up having to use Brocade's Data Migration Manager instead. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 May 2006
Is storage automation right for you?
This tip covers what storage automation is, and what it is not, and what it means to you. Also, you will learn why you should, or should not implement a storage automation product. Continue Reading