If you're an IT executive, chances are you're already thinking about storage virtualization. Nearly one-quarter of companies with at least 500 employees have deployed storage virtualization products already, and another 55 percent plan to do so within two years, a recent Gartner survey found.
Storage virtualization is an abstraction that presents servers and applications a view of storage that is different from that of actual physical storage, typically by aggregating multiple storage devices and allowing them to be managed in one administrative console.
The technology is emerging fast onto the enterprise scene for good reasons: In many cases, it can reduce the management burdens associated with storage; and offer better models for data-center migrations, backup and disaster recovery.
Enterasys Networks reaped these benefits recently when it moved a data center from Boston into its headquarters in Andover, Massachusetts.
"In days gone by, before storage virtualization, that might have been an all-day, if not an all-week kind of process," says Enterasys vice president of marketing Trent Waterhouse. "Because of the storage virtualization technologies, the entire move happened in less than 30 minutes."
There are still common pitfalls that storage administrators should ponder, as well as questions they should ask before they roll out a storage-virtualization project. Here's a look at some of the top issues.
Managing capacity
With storage virtualization, allocating storage is easy -- perhaps too easy.
"You have the ability to affect more systems in the whole forest if you do something," says Jonathan Smith, CEO of ITonCommand in Denver, Colo., who cautions fellow IT shops to pay close attention to both the storage and performance needs of each application. "You just didn't have that power before. Now all of a sudden you can do whatever you want."
Smith, who is using LeftHand Networks virtualization on HP storage, says an IT pro might see a lot of empty space in a given storage volume and be tempted to fill it up. Overusing a resource, however, can decrease performance if the storage is allocated to a database or some other I/O-intensive application.
"Make sure you size it correctly and really understand how much horsepower [your applications need]," Smith says.
- +
Strategies for Dealing With IT Complexity 24/12/2007 10:30:47
Every innovation, every business process improvement, comes with an IT complexity tax that must be paid by CIOs in time, money and sweat. Here are strategies to mitigate the increasing complexity of IT as it enables new business.Every innovation, every business process improvement, comes with an IT complexity tax that must be paid by CIOs in time, money and sweat. Here are strategies to mitigate the increasing complexity of IT as it enables new business.
Read up on the latest ideas and technologies from companies that sell hardware, software and services. Zones provide focussed content from Computerworld and leading technology partners.
Unisys Real Time Infrastructure solutions embody Unisys “less is more” approach to IT infrastructure, freeing IT organisations to deploy a simplified, more easily managed IT infrastructure that allows them to spend less time on routine management activities and more time on strategic initiatives that advance the business.
Virtualisation Knowledge Centre supported by Unisys and Intel
Video
Click on the link below to see Real Time Infrastructure defined and an explanation of its key benefits. You can also hear how Unisys has embraced RTI in its own IT infrastructure.
Watch Now
Podcast
Click on the link below to hear Unisys RTI expert Al Bender discuss virtualisation trends and issues.
Listen Now
Whitepapers
The Virtualisation Landscape to 2010
This white paper provides insights on the further evolution of virtualisation now and through to 2010, what it will do to IT infrastructure, its role within business for those who embrace it and the detrimental impact on those who don’t.
Download Whitepaper
Good for Business - Virtualisation in Perspective
Data centres are a critical component of modern business strategies, and their importance is continually growing. But so is the cost of running and supporting them. This paper looks at the urgent challenges facing organisations and their data centres, and explores some of the ways in which technology can help to address them.
Download Whitepaper
Unisys Infrastructure Management Suite
The Unisys Infrastructure Management Suite helps your organisation overcome the challenges of creating an optimised IT infrastructure with cutting-edge technology and services. As such, it is an integral component of the Unisys Real-Time Infrastructure – a long-term vision of what business and IT can achieve together.
Download Whitepaper
Comparing Multi-Core Server Virtualisation
Intel IT tested servers based on select Intel multi-core processors to analyse the potential role of each in data center server virtualisation strategies. Each server provided significant potential benefits in performance, power consumption per workload, and operating costs over older servers running non-virtualised workloads.
Download Whitepaper
Comparing Two & Four Socket Platforms for Server Virtualisation
Intel IT tested servers based on select Intel multi-core processors to analyse the potential role of each in data center server virtualisation strategies. Each server provided significant potential benefits in performance, power consumption per workload, and operating costs over older servers running non-virtualised workloads.
Download Whitepaper
Implementing Virtualisation in a Global Business-Computing Environment
Intel IT planned, engineered, and has begun deploying a virtualised business-computing production environment at several data centers, a rollout that will continue through 2008. The initiative has already confirmed anticipated virtualisation benefits such as faster, more automated deployment. Intel are initially consolidating older servers running applications that are not mission-critical; with opportunities to achieve 16:1 consolidation ratios using two-socket virtualisation hosts based on Quad-Core Intel® Xeon® processors.
Download Whitepaper
For more info on Unisys RTI services, click here
Buying Guides
Latest Products
