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• converged network adapter (CNA)

  A converged network adapter (CNA) is a single network interface device that provides the functionality of both a Fibre Channel (FC) host bus adapter (HBA) and a TCP/IP Ethernet network interface card (NIC). Continue Reading

• litigation hold (legal hold, preservation order or hold order)

  A litigation hold -- also known as legal hold, preservation order or hold order -- is an internal process that an organization undergoes to preserve all data that might relate to a legal action involving the organization. Continue Reading

• program/erase cycle (P/E cycle)

  A solid-state storage program/erase cycle (P/E cycle) is a sequence of events in which data is written to a solid-state NAND flash memory cell, such as the type found in a flash or thumb drive, and is subsequently erased and rewritten. Continue Reading

• garbage collection (GC)

  Garbage collection (GC) is a memory recovery feature built into programming languages such as C# and Java. Continue Reading

• Explore top data lake providers for substantial storage use

  Don't be deterred by the murky waters of data lake technology. Fishing for the right provider to accelerate your analytics is probably easier than you think. Continue Reading

• Definitions to Get Started

  • What is a distributed file system (DFS)?
  • What is virtual memory?
  • What is an mSATA SSD (mSATA solid-state drive)?
  • What is a clustered network-attached storage (NAS) system?

  • What is cloud NAS (cloud network-attached storage)?
  • What is direct-attached storage (DAS) and how does it work?
  • What is RAID (redundant array of independent disks)?
  • What are optical disks and how do they work?

  View All Definitions

• Common Information Model (CIM)

  The Common Information Model (CIM) is a computer industry standard that defines device and application characteristics so system administrators and management programs can control devices and applications from different manufacturers.Continue Reading

• queue depth

  Queue depth, in storage, is the number of pending input/output (I/O) requests that a storage resource can handle at any one time.Continue Reading

• RAM-based solid-state drive (SSD)

  A RAM-based solid-state drive (SSD) is a storage device made from silicon microchips that has no moving parts and stores data electronically instead of magnetically.Continue Reading

• World Wide Name (WWN)

  A World Wide Name (WWN) is a unique identifier that is hard-coded into each Fibre Channel (FC) device by the device's manufacturer.Continue Reading

• Fibre Channel (FC) port types

  A Fibre Channel port is a hardware pathway into and out of a node that performs data communications over an FC link.Continue Reading

• solid-state drive (SSD) capacity

  Solid-state drive (SSD) capacity is the maximum amount of data that can be stored on a solid-state drive.Continue Reading

• N_Port ID virtualization (NPIV)

  N_Port ID virtualization (NPIV) is a Fibre Channel (FC) standard that makes it possible to create multiple virtual ports on a single physical node port (N_Port), with each virtual port appearing as a unique entity to the FC network.Continue Reading

• overprovisioning (SSD overprovisioning)

  Overprovisioning, in a storage context, is the inclusion of extra storage capacity in a solid-state drive.Continue Reading

• flash solid-state drive (SSD)

  A flash solid-state drive (SSD) is a non-volatile storage device that stores persistent data in flash memory.Continue Reading

• Serial-Attached SCSI (SAS)

  Serial-Attached SCSI (SAS) is a method used to access computer peripheral devices that employs a serial -- one bit at a time -- means of digital data transfer over thin cables.Continue Reading

• utility storage

  Utility storage is a service model in which a provider makes storage capacity available to an individual, organization or business unit on a pay-per-use basis.Continue Reading

• oversubscription

  Oversubscription in a storage area network (SAN) is the practice of committing more network bandwidth to devices connected to that network than what is physically available.Continue Reading

• A primer on the NVMe management ecosystem

  The NVMe management ecosystem has a lot of moving parts and confusing acronyms. This overview details the various specifications and how they work together.Continue Reading

• write amplification factor (WAF)

  Write amplification factor (WAF) is a numerical value that represents the amount of data a solid-state drive (SSD) controller writes in relation to the amount of data that the host's flash controller writes.Continue Reading

• Cloud Data Management Interface (CDMI)

  The Cloud Data Management Interface (CDMI) is an international standard that defines a functional interface that applications use to create, retrieve, update and delete data elements from cloud storage.Continue Reading

• NAND flash wear-out

  NAND flash wear-out is the breakdown of the oxide layer within the floating gate transistors of NAND flash memory.Continue Reading

• What to look for in a green cloud storage provider

  Alongside cost and flexibility, a commitment to sustainability is a key consideration for organizations trying to choose a cloud storage provider.Continue Reading

• solid-state storage garbage collection

  Solid-state storage garbage collection, or SSD garbage collection, is an automated process by which a solid-state drive (SSD) improves write performance.Continue Reading

• LUN masking

  LUN masking is an authorization mechanism used in storage area networks (SANs) to make LUNs available to some hosts but unavailable to other hosts.Continue Reading

• virtual LUN (virtual logical unit number)

  A virtual LUN (virtual logical unit number) is a representation of a storage area that is not tied to any physical storage allocation.Continue Reading

• cloud washing

  Cloud washing (also spelled cloudwashing) is the purposeful and sometimes deceptive attempt by a vendor to rebrand an old product or service by associating the buzzword 'cloud' with it.Continue Reading

• HD-DVD (high-definition DVD)

  HD-DVD (high-definition DVD) is a defunct high-capacity optical storage medium that was once seen as the successor to the DVD.Continue Reading

• Network Data Management Protocol (NDMP)

  Network Data Management Protocol (NDMP) is an open protocol to control data backup and recovery communications between primary and secondary storage in a heterogeneous network environment.Continue Reading

• hierarchical storage management (HSM)

  Hierarchical storage management (HSM) is policy-based management of data files that uses storage media economically and without the user being aware of when files are retrieved from storage.Continue Reading

• exabyte (EB)

  An exabyte (EB) is a large unit of computer data storage, two to the sixtieth power bytes.Continue Reading

• storage filer

  A storage filer is a type of file server designed and programmed for high-volume data storage, backup and archiving.Continue Reading

• information lifecycle management (ILM)

  Information lifecycle management (ILM) is a comprehensive approach to managing an organization's data and associated metadata, starting with its creation and acquisition through when it becomes obsolete and is deleted.Continue Reading

• WORM (write once, read many)

  In computer media, write once, read many, or WORM, is a data storage technology that allows data to be written to a storage medium a single time and prevents the data from being erased or modified.Continue Reading

• direct access

  In computer storage, direct access is the process of reading and writing data on a storage device by going directly to where the data is physically located on the device rather than having to move sequentially from one physical location to the next ...Continue Reading

• Enterprise data storage 2021 Products of the Year finalists

  The 20th anniversary of the 'Storage' magazine and SearchStorage Products of the Year contest showcases 39 finalists in backup, cloud, disk, hyper-converged and management.Continue Reading

• kibi, mebi, gibi, tebi, pebi and exbi

  Kibi, mebi, gibi, tebi, pebi and exbi are binary prefix multipliers that, in 1998, were approved as a standard by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).Continue Reading

• holographic storage (holostorage)

  Holographic storage is computer storage that uses laser beams to store computer-generated data in three dimensions.Continue Reading

• content-addressed storage (CAS)

  Content-addressed storage (CAS) -- also called content-addressable storage -- is a method for storing fixed content as objects and providing fast access to that content.Continue Reading

• direct access storage device (DASD)

  A direct access storage device (DASD) is a type of secondary storage device that supports direct access to the stored data, as opposed to sequential access, which is slower and less efficient.Continue Reading

• InfiniBand

  InfiniBand is an industry standard communications specification the InfiniBand Trade Association (IBTA) developed.Continue Reading

• redundant

  Data redundancy refers to the practice of keeping data in two or more places within a database or data storage system.Continue Reading

• address space

  Address space is the amount of memory allocated for all possible addresses for a computational entity -- for example, a device, a file, a server or a networked computer.Continue Reading

• How many bytes for...

  Data is often expressed in bytes, which are composed of eight binary digits.Continue Reading

• Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA)

  Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) is a technology that enables two networked computers to exchange data in main memory without relying on the processor, cache or operating system of either computer.Continue Reading

• storage (computer storage)

  Data storage is the collective methods and technologies that capture and retain digital information on electromagnetic, optical or silicon-based storage media.Continue Reading

• How can organizations manage Microsoft Teams storage limits?

  Microsoft Teams storage limits can be complex for organizations to track. Learn the details and how to add Microsoft 365 storage to avoid capacity problems.Continue Reading

• storage medium (storage media)

  In computers, a storage medium is a physical device that receives and retains electronic data for applications and users and makes the data available for retrieval.Continue Reading

• charge-coupled device

  A charge-coupled device (CCD) is a light-sensitive integrated circuit that captures images by converting photons to electrons.Continue Reading

• IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics)

  IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) is an electronic interface standard that defines the connection between a bus on a computer's motherboard and the computer's disk storage devices.Continue Reading

• host bus adapter (HBA)

  A host bus adapter (HBA) is a circuit board or integrated circuit adapter that connects a host system, such as a server, to a storage or network device.Continue Reading

• data at rest

  Data at rest is a term that is sometimes used to refer to all data in computer storage while excluding data that is traversing a network or temporarily residing in computer memory to be read or updated.Continue Reading

• tape drive

  A tape drive is a device that stores computer data on magnetic tape, especially for backup and archiving purposes.Continue Reading

• Terabyte (TB)

  A terabyte (TB) is a unit of digital data that is equal to about 1 trillion bytes.Continue Reading

• gigabyte (GB)

  A gigabyte (GB) -- pronounced with two hard Gs -- is a unit of data storage capacity that is roughly equivalent to 1 billion bytes.Continue Reading

• MRAM (magnetoresistive random access memory)

  MRAM (magnetoresistive random access memory) is a method of storing data bits using magnetic states instead of the electrical charges used by devices such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM).Continue Reading

• storage volume

  A storage volume is an identifiable unit of data storage. It can be a removable hard disk, but it does not have to be a unit that can be physically removed from a computer or storage system.Continue Reading

• storage capacity planning

  Storage capacity planning is the practice of assessing current data storage needs and forecasting future storage requirements.Continue Reading

• non-volatile storage (NVS)

  Non-volatile storage (NVS) is a broad collection of technologies and devices that do not require a continuous power supply to retain data or program code persistently on a short- or long-term basis.Continue Reading

• Why QLC flash adoption now benefits the enterprise

  While enterprises must overcome some obstacles with QLC, there is a solid case for its use. 3D NAND has played a big part in enabling QLC use within the enterprise.Continue Reading

• cache

  A cache -- pronounced CASH -- is hardware or software that is used to store something, usually data, temporarily in a computing environment.Continue Reading

• data availability

  Data availability is a term used by computer storage manufacturers and storage service providers to describe how data should be available at a required level of performance in situations ranging from normal through disastrous.Continue Reading

• yottabyte (YB)

  A yottabyte (YB) is a measure of theoretical storage capacity and data volumes equal to 2 to the 80th power bytes, or approximately a million trillion megabytes (MB).Continue Reading

• tiered storage

  Tiered storage is a method for assigning different categories of data to various types of storage media to reduce overall storage costs and improve the performance and availability of mission-critical applications.Continue Reading

• secondary storage

  Secondary storage is persistent storage for noncritical data that doesn't need to be accessed as frequently as data in primary storage or that doesn't have the same performance or availability requirements.Continue Reading

• optical storage

  Optical storage is any storage type in which data is written and read with a laser.Continue Reading

• JBOD (just a bunch of disks)

  JBOD, which stands for 'just a bunch of disks,' is a type of multilevel configuration for disks.Continue Reading

• How businesses can manage Microsoft 365 storage space

  While Microsoft 365 users face storage limits across the platform, there are ways to increase capacity. It's also important to understand the limits in the first place.Continue Reading

• bare-metal restore

  A bare-metal restore (also referred to as bare-metal recovery or bare-metal backup) is a data recovery and restoration process where a computer is restored to a new machine, typically after a catastrophic failure.Continue Reading

• storage class memory (SCM)

  Storage class memory (SCM) is a type of physical computer memory that combines dynamic random access memory (DRAM), NAND flash memory and a power source for data persistence.Continue Reading

• Storage for edge computing is the next frontier for IoT

  IoT edge devices are getting smarter and will need local storage for machine learning and other AI operations. Is the industry ready for the challenge of storage for edge computing?Continue Reading

• SSD (solid-state drive)

  An SSD, or solid-state drive, is a type of storage device used in computers.Continue Reading

• Apply hyperscale data center design principles to IT storage

  Storage admins in large enterprises can borrow infrastructure design principles from the major hyperscale cloud providers to optimize their own storage systems and operations.Continue Reading

• VRAM (video RAM)

  VRAM (video RAM) refers to any type of random access memory (RAM) specifically used to store image data for a computer display.Continue Reading

• RAID 10 (RAID 1+0)

  RAID 10, also known as RAID 1+0, is a RAID configuration that combines disk mirroring and disk striping to protect data.Continue Reading

• Serial ATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment or SATA)

  Serial ATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment or SATA) is a command and transport protocol that defines how data is transferred between a computer's motherboard and mass storage devices, such as hard disk drives (HDDs), optical drives and ...Continue Reading

• Manage OneDrive for Business storage limits, step by step

  OneDrive for Business is an important cloud storage element for Microsoft 365 users. Admins should be ready to adjust the storage limits for their users.Continue Reading

• bare-metal cloud

  Bare-metal cloud is a public cloud service that offers dedicated hardware resources without any installed operating systems or virtualization infrastructure.Continue Reading

• race condition

  A race condition is an undesirable situation that occurs when a device or system attempts to perform two or more operations at the same time, but because of the nature of the device or system, the operations must be done in the proper sequence to be...Continue Reading

• cloud storage

  Cloud storage is a service model in which data is transmitted and stored on remote storage systems, where it is maintained, managed, backed up and made available to users over a network (typically the internet).Continue Reading

• Why and how to implement NVMe power management

  Understand how to use NVMe built-in power management features to conserve energy, manage heat and, in the case of mobile devices, extend operating times.Continue Reading

• 6 data storage compliance strategies for the enterprise

  Storage administrators and managers stressing over compliance should follow these analyst-recommended strategies, including taking advantage of automation and anonymizing data.Continue Reading

• Guidelines to implement storage for AI workloads

  Organizations with AI-enabled projects need an effective way to store, retrieve and share massive amounts of complex data. These tips will help meet AI data storage challenges.Continue Reading

• 8 best practices for SAN deployment within SMBs

  SMBs face a number of challenges when planning and performing a SAN implementation. Get out in front of an often intricate process with these best practices.Continue Reading

• How to develop and implement a data storage plan

  Planning is an important piece of IT. Examine the elements of a storage plan, how to prepare and implement the document, and the benefits of having one.Continue Reading

• Set up persistent storage for containers in the cloud

  All the major cloud vendors offer containers as a service. There are various ways IT admins can enable persistent storage for these flexible environments.Continue Reading

• Calculate HPC storage costs based on these 8 factors

  IT teams that want an accurate estimate of HPC storage costs must account not only for the technology itself, but for staffing, support and ongoing operational expenses.Continue Reading

• 9 VDI storage best practices to better connect remote workers

  Learn how to plan and deploy VDI storage to make your remote workers more productive and efficient. It's all about knowing your users and picking the right devices.Continue Reading

• Test your knowledge of object storage usage in the enterprise

  Do you know when and where to use object storage? Take our quiz to see which workloads it's best for and insight into how object storage fits into the overall storage picture.Continue Reading

• 7 steps to retiring storage hardware safely and efficiently

  Organizations put a lot of thought into the storage equipment they purchase. The decision to retire that same hardware should get just as much consideration.Continue Reading

• What is a SAN? Ultimate storage area network guide

  A storage area network (SAN) is a dedicated high-speed network or subnetwork that interconnects and presents shared pools of storage devices to multiple servers.Continue Reading

• What are VMware vVols and how do they work?

  VMware's new Virtual Volumes allow virtual machines and applications to be better allocated to storage. The feature is now available in beta.Continue Reading

• Container use and the implications for storage

  Knowing which type of storage to deploy when using containers is important. We look at the storage architectures enterprises are using, the features preferred and more.Continue Reading

• Get the most out of cloud caching appliances and gateways

  Cloud storage caching can reduce performance-sapping latency. See how these appliances work, alternative approaches, in-demand features and the various products available.Continue Reading

• Computational storage fundamentals explained

  Computational storage is an emerging technology, but it isn't too soon to develop an understanding of how it can be used to address storage latency and performance issues.Continue Reading

• Storage class memory could benefit VDI storage, remote work

  SCM has the potential to meet IOPS and latency requirements of VDI workloads, but it isn't clear if it's worth the extra cost. We look at some possible ways this could happen.Continue Reading

• NVMe-oF storage technology and terms explained

  Get to know how NVMe-oF optimizes storage network performance and lowers latency with this roundup of terminology associated with the emerging technology.Continue Reading

• SMR, HAMR and other HDD technologies you can build on

  Hard disk drives could make a comeback in 2020, as new technologies such as SMR, HAMR, MAMR and dual actuators provide more capacity and speed for secondary storage.Continue Reading

• Get to know edge storage and the technology around it

  Edge computing changes how data is managed between the network endpoints and data centers or the cloud. Learn about the various components that make up an edge system.Continue Reading

• Test your QLC storage knowledge

  Do you know when and where to use QLC flash? Check out our quiz to see what workloads it's best for and other insight into the latest generation of NAND technology.Continue Reading

• 6 key AI data storage questions answered

  Want to know what to watch for when planning storage for AI workloads? Find out the key considerations and challenges for dealing with the complexities of AI.Continue Reading