Network based storage virtualization software

Instead, what most people in the industry mean by storage virtualization is a hardware or software product on the host, on the networkfabric as a discrete appliance or as a function of the. Virtualizations, san, data virtualization, storage virtualization semi. Block virtualization happens when the software abstracts multiple disk arrays into a single. Network virtualization is designed to allow network optimization of data transfer rates, flexibility, scalability, reliability and security. Virtualization has been quite the buzzword in the storage industry recently. What is the best way to implement file virtualization. In this article, we will demystify these complex terms, explain what they can do for you, and name specific products. Emcs family of enterprise storage network esn components offers a variety of virtualization options, and the veritas volume manager from mountain view, calif. This is the ability to create and configure virtual volumes from a heterogeneous storage pool and present them to. Filebased storage virtualization is typically used for specific needs and applied to networkattached storage systems.

Virtualization and the softwaredefined data center vmware. Storage systems typically use special hardware and software along with disk drives in. With this emulation layer the vmm provides a consistent view of a hardware device to the vms and the device. Storage virtualization white papers virtualization. Storage virtualization an overview sciencedirect topics. Networkbased volume management is the basis for what many think of as virtualization. This keeps costs down compared with arraybased solutions, which require the purchase of a storage array. Software based io virtualization methods use emulation of the io devices. Virtualization and the softwaredefined data center. Here are key advantages and disadvantages of storage virtualization to consider. In computer science, storage virtualization is the process of presenting a logical view of the. Storage virtualization devices that operate on the network fabric are either classed as inband or outofband depending on whether the data and metadata travel along the same path through the device or not. Storage virtualization is the process of grouping the physical storage from multiple network storage devices so that it looks like a single storage device.

Spiceworks research reveals storage, network, desktop, and. In the approach, the virtualization is done at the host level, where we present the user with virtual storage with different capacity sets where the hosts are multiple. The latest answer to this dilemma is storage virtualization, which adds a new layer of software andor hardware between storage systems and servers, so that applications no longer need to know on. Enterprise it will continue the serverbased storage trend that started several years ago, with more focus than ever on software. According to spiceworks research, we can expect adoption rates to grow by. As mentioned above, most networkbased storage virtualization appliances are inband and sold as a hardware appliance or software that can be installed on commodity servers. The networkbased virtualization technology is delivered via serverbased software, a network appliance or an intelligent fibre channel switch, and it. Storage virtualization techniques and types of storage. Softwaredefined storage sds is a marketing term for computer data storage software for policybased provisioning and management of data storage independent of the underlying hardware.

Networkbased storage virtualization is the most common type for san owners, who use it to extend their investment by. The 2020 state of virtualization technology marketing. Network virtualization also may include storage virtualization, which involves managing all storage as a single resource. This is also known as virtualization software, storage software virtualization, sv software, san virtualization software, nas virtualization software. Network virtualization technology takes softwaredefined networking sdn to the next level by truly decoupling network resources from underlying hardware. Storage virtualization allows us to harness a wide range of storage facilities and represent them under a single logical file system. While disk drives can be virtualized as ram disks, virtual drives mapped into networkbased storage, and even integrated as singlelevel storage hierarchies that stretch back to ibms system38. How to do storage virtualization right computerworld. Network based storage virtualization is the most common type for san owners, who use it to extend their investment by adding more storage. The storage virtualization intelligence runs from a server or switch, across fibre channel or iscsi networks. There are many types of virtualization server, network, storage, and more. Hostbased storage virtualization, which relies on software at the server. For example, when theyre running on physical machines, these pieces of software are designed to monopolize. Since most storage virtualization use cases typically involve some measure of storage consolidation, putting the storage virtualization engine onto the network makes a lot of sense, since other storage.

The networkbased virtualization technology is delivered via serverbased software, a network appliance, or an intelligent fibre channel switch, and it. These types of devices are the most commonly available and implemented form of virtualization. It supports heterogeneous storage devices using fc, fibre channel over. Virtualization software lets you run windows on macos or linux systems, and other oses on windows machines, too. Faster storage, more virtualization, better business. Read a description of storage virtualization software. A virtual storage network can also support access via block, file nas, and objectbased to meet the different needs of applications and adapt to support different technology resources. Implementing a networkbased storage virtualization appliance. Hpq news today announced new virtualization software, including a tool for planning sun migrations, and a partner.

Storage virtualization also sometimes called softwaredefined storage or a virtual san is the pooling of multiple physical storage arrays from sans and making them appear as a single virtual storage device. While usage of server virtualization doesnt have much more room to grow, other forms of virtualization will pick up the slack. Network based storage virtualization is the most common type for san. The process involves abstracting and covering the internal functions of a storage device from the host application, host servers or a general network in order to facilitate the application and networkindependent management of storage. Within the next two years, double digit growth is expected in the use of desktop, application, network, storage, and data virtualization. This is also known as virtualization, storagebased virtualization, hostbased virtualization, sv, nas virtualization, san virtualization, block virtualization. Storage virtualization solutions at the array or in the. Like the telephone network, you may need special plugs, adapters, or connectors to access and use a storage network. Network virtualization was developed by using the same concepts of server virtualization. There are different techniques for storage virtualization, one of the most.

Faster storage, more virtualization, better business use cases. It supports heterogeneous storage devices using fc, fibre channel over ethernet fcoe or iscsi and attaches to hosts as fc or iscsi storage. There are several virtualization mechanisms available to the storage consumer today. Software defined networking uses virtual switches, routers, firewalls. It provides a virtual web services gateway to the internet for a broad range of users whose applications need xml links to other software, to databases, or other. Hp unveils virtualization software june 06, 2007 palo alto, calif. Storage virtualization operating on a network based device typically a standard server or smart switch and using iscsi or fc fibre channel networks to connect as a san. Vmwares softwaredefined storage solutions enhance todays data center by delivering. This free softwarebased storage virtualization engine is multiprotocol, including iscsi and nfs. Should also have a fibre channel or cifs itch to scratch, this free product can help. Network virtualization nv refers to abstracting network resources traditionally delivered in hardware to software. After trapping the operations, it emulates in particular software and the. Server virtualization an overview sciencedirect topics. Hp unveils virtualization software network computing.