| Copyright (c) 2007 Dean Barnard | | | | of the actual storage mechanism. The flexibly and |
| With a plethora of storage devices attached to a | | | | expandability provided by virtualization when there is |
| computer, management becomes a crucial issue. It | | | | tremendous pressure on operation due to stringent |
| therefore becomes imperative to create one large | | | | SLA's, is unparalleled. |
| logical storage which consolidates the different | | | | To cope with ever-expanding data volumes, |
| physical storage devices. This effectively means that | | | | increased pressure due to SLA and compliance, there |
| a user would look at the storage system as a single | | | | is a need for scalable systems that enable massive |
| logical device instead of multiple ones. This is called | | | | consolidation. San switches that scale all the way up |
| virtualization. Many organizations are considering | | | | to 500 ports in a single chassis and arrays that scale |
| storage virtualization as an important mechanism to | | | | up to hundreds of terabytes together with the |
| trim costs. Through storage visualization, storage | | | | intelligence are some trends for the future. The key |
| devices from different vendors can be consolidated | | | | to intelligence in storage networks is that of centrally |
| into a virtual storage pool. This gives customers the | | | | hosted third party intelligent fabric applications for |
| ability to choose storage hardware independent of | | | | improved operational efficiencies, storage utilization |
| the functionality that they need from it and to | | | | and data mobility. |
| change and upgrade it without disrupting existing | | | | Due to the reasons stated above, virtualization has |
| data. This may seem like a simple problem but on | | | | become extremely popular, especially with |
| ground hardware sourcing from different vendors | | | | organizations which have an insatiable need for data |
| and their consolidation can be a source of major | | | | storage and devices. The service level agreements |
| headache. In this context virtualization assumes | | | | are driving vendors to offer better virtualization |
| importance. | | | | solutions which are intelligent with built in expert |
| The technologies that would play a pivotal role in the | | | | knowledge. |
| future are adoption of Information Lifecycle | | | | The future of virtualization is without doubt a must |
| management (ILM) by enterprises and creation of | | | | for large computer networks. What is essential is for |
| virtualized infrastructure. The ultimate goal for most | | | | intelligent devices which would automatically expand |
| companies would be to create a service oriented | | | | resources in accordance with the needs of the |
| Architecture infrastructure. Disc visualization hides | | | | systems. Consolidation has to lead to better |
| physical complexity from the user and delivers better | | | | efficiencies and ultimately to lower cost of acquisition |
| performance. Virtualization results in a high rate of | | | | and maintenance. |
| utilization, automation, better control and is simple to | | | | Virtualization can also be viewed from the software |
| operate. Large enterprises find virtualization not only | | | | applications point of view. In this context , |
| useful but also unavoidable. The geographical spread | | | | virtualization means operation of applications |
| of some organizations itself is a major reason for | | | | irrespective of the system software. This has many |
| selecting different vendors for their numerous | | | | advantages the primary one being that no specific |
| locations. Consolidation therefore is a major issue. | | | | hardware profiles may need to be established for |
| Virtualization insulates the users from the complexities | | | | operating the virtual application. |