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Get the most value out of your SDS systems by making smart choices
There are many choices you face when looking to implement an SDS infrastructure. Making the right ones will help you get the most value from software-defined storage. Continue Reading
How to build a private storage cloud
Building internal cloud storage must account for elasticity, choosing the right platform, allowing for workflow, and stack deployments and public cloud integration. Continue Reading
A dozen data storage vendors to watch in 2017
Hyper-convergence, solid-state, software-defined storage and the cloud have revolutionized the way we deploy, manage and secure storage. How the dozen leading data storage vendors presented here navigate the challenges and opportunities created by ... Continue Reading
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flash file system
Flash file systems are designed specifically for memory devices. A well-designed flash device and flash file system ensure flash-based capabilities are used efficiently. Continue Reading
IOPS (input/output operations per second)
IOPS measures the maximum number of reads and writes to non-contiguous storage. It is not an actual benchmark since vendor numbers can vary from real-world performance. Continue Reading
eMMC (embedded MultiMediaCard)
An embedded MultiMediaCard (eMMC) is a small storage device made up of NAND flash memory and a simple storage controller.Continue Reading
mirror site
A mirrored site is a website or set of files on a server that has been copied to another server so that the site or files are available from more than one place.Continue Reading
cloud storage infrastructure
Cloud storage infrastructure is the hardware and software framework that supports the computing requirements of a private or public cloud storage service.Continue Reading
partition
Partitioning a hard disk drive is the first step in preparing it for data storage. A disk partition is a carved out logical space used to manage operating systems and files.Continue Reading
RDRAM (Rambus DRAM)
Rambus Dynamic Random Access Memory, or RDRAM (Rambus DRAM), is a type of computer device active memory developed and licensed by Rambus Inc.Continue Reading
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parity
Parity is a method of detecting errors in data transmissions between computers, while parity bit and parity checking are used in RAID technology to guard against data loss.Continue Reading
Server-side caching defined and clarified
Server-side caching, or flash storage installed in the server itself, is deployed to accelerate application performance. Placing the flash as close to the application as possible reduces latency and improves performance.
Over the past couple of ...Continue Reading
Ceph
Ceph is open source software providing scalable object-, block- and file-based storage under a unified system. Red Hat and SUSE sell commercially supported versions of Ceph.Continue Reading
Server-side flash technology lifts solid-state adoption
Server-side solid-state storage is more ubiquitous than ever due to growing capacities and rapidly dropping flash technology prices. There are a many ways to install flash technology in a server, though there are decisions to make before you buy. We...Continue Reading
NetApp Data Fabric
The products and services that compose NetApp’s Data Fabric are designed to provide customers with the agility they need to quickly and efficiently move data to and from the cloud.Continue Reading
file storage
File storage stores data in a hierarchical structure, usually in a NAS system. The system storing data and the client retrieving data see files and folders in the same format.Continue Reading
Complete guide to server-based storage in its modern forms
From hyper-convergence to the cloud, better understand direct-attached storage and its many forms with this essential guide.Continue Reading
Qumulo
Qumulo is a Seattle-based storage vendor that specializes in selling its data-aware storage software application called the Qumulo Core. This product provides detailed data analytics, and these analytics are meant to help customers better manage ...Continue Reading
parallel I/O
Parallel I/O is a way of performing multiple input/output operations concurrently, rather than serially.Continue Reading
3.5" SSD (3.5 solid-state drive)
A 3.5 solid-state drive (SSD) is a data storage device designed for the 3.5-inch hard disk drive (HDD) form factor. It fits into the drive slot as a same-sized HDD in a portable computer, enterprise server, or storage system.Continue Reading
iSCSI initiator
An iSCSI initiator is software or hardware that enables a host computer to transmit data to an iSCSI-based storage array through a network adapter over a TCP-based IP network.Continue Reading
IBM General Parallel File System (IBM GPFS)
The IBM General Parallel File System is one of the top file systems used in high-performance computing and the basis for many storage products used in supercomputing.Continue Reading
cloud file syncing
Cloud file syncing is an application that updates files held in different locations through the cloud.Continue Reading
IBM Spectrum
IBM ships six storage and management software products that fall under the IBM Spectrum umbrella. They provide services such as capacity, data movement and backup.Continue Reading
point-in-time snapshot (PIT snapshot)
Point-in-time snapshots are a method of data protection that allows an administrator to make a full copy of a volume so that a restore can occur based on a specific time.Continue Reading
file synchronization (file sync)
File synchronization, often used as a form of backup, is the process by which files residing in more than one physical location are kept up to date.Continue Reading
cloud controller
A cloud controller is a device that moves data between on-premises storage and the cloud.Continue Reading
read-intensive SSD (read-intensive solid-state drive)
A read-intensive solid-state drive (SSD) is a NAND flash-based storage or caching device used with applications that write data infrequently, in contrast to SSDs that target write-intensive workloads.Continue Reading
HDD form factor (hard disk drive form factor)
HDD form factor is the size or geometry of a hard disk drive, determining the device’s compatibility with the drive bays in a storage array or enclosure, server, portable computer or other computing device.Continue Reading
clustered file system (CFS)
Clustered file systems are file systems that run on multiple storage servers and can be accessed and managed as a single system.Continue Reading
enterprise SSD (enterprise solid-state drive)
An enterprise SSD (also known as an enterprise solid-state drive or enterprise solid-state disk) stores data persistently or caches data temporarily in nonvolatile memory and generally provides higher performance and greater endurance than consumer ...Continue Reading
What is eventual consistency in object stores?
Eventual consistency in object stores can be an issue because object storage is spread over many nodes and up-to-date data may not always be available.Continue Reading
shingled magnetic recording (SMR)
Shingled magnetic recording (SMR) is a technique for writing data to disk drives in partially overlapping tracks to boost areal density and overall capacity.Continue Reading
hardware RAID (hardware redundant array of independent disk)
Hardware RAID is a form of RAID where processing is done externally.Continue Reading
software RAID (software redundant array of independent disk)
Software RAID is a form of RAID (redundant array of independent disks) performed on the internal server.Continue Reading
NAS filer (network-attached storage filer)
NAS filers add scalable, expandable storage for file-serving purposes in data sharing, cloud applications, Internet and enterprise networks, in both Fibre Channel SANs and Ethernet LANs.Continue Reading
Data Dynamics StorageX
Data Dynamics StorageX is a software suite that specializes in data migration and Microsoft Distributed File System management.Continue Reading
QNAP Systems Inc. (Quality Network Appliance Provider Systems Inc.)
QNAP Systems Inc. is a Taiwanese-based storage vendor specializing in hardware systems for file sharing, storage management, virtualization and cloud services as well as surveillance applications for home and businesses.Continue Reading
Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service (Microsoft VSS)
Microsoft VSS is a Windows Server feature used for backing up and restoring LUNs and individual files.Continue Reading
SCSI (Small Computer System Interface)
Definition: The Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) is a set of parallel interface standards used to attach disk drives and other peripherals to a computer.Continue Reading
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
NAS enclosure (network-attached storage enclosure)
NAS enclosures provide shared storage to all users connected to a network, and vary in models appropriate for home offices to enterprises.Continue Reading
For maximum benefits of virtualization, storage management is key
Server virtualization increases the complexity of storage management and forces administrators to pay even closer attention to issues such as available bandwidth and overprovisioning. Approaching management and provisioning in the same way as in a ...Continue Reading
FreeNAS Project
The FreeNAS storage operating system is compatible with most major protocols and storage hardware and provides file sharing in a NAS environment.Continue Reading
orthogonal
Orthogonal concepts have their roots in advanced mathematics. They are also associated with software development, storage and networking.Continue Reading
Rackspace Cloud
Cloud provider Rackspace offers several different cloud storage services including Cloud Files, Cloud Block Storage and Cloud Backup.Continue Reading
areal density
Areal density measures the amount of data that can be stored on a given amount of physical space on a disk drive.Continue Reading
storage node
A storage node is typically a physical server with one or more hard-disk drives (HDDs) or solid-state drives (SDDs).Continue Reading
iSCSI switch (Internet Small Computer System Interface switch)
An iSCSI switch is an appliance that processes and channels data between an iSCSI initiator and target on a storage device.Continue Reading
IP SAN (Internet Protocol storage area network)
An IP SAN is a dedicated storage area network (SAN) that allows multiple servers to access pools of shared block storage devices using storage protocols that depend on the Internet Engineering Taskforce standard Internet Protocol suite.Continue Reading
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
What criteria are most important when evaluating cloud storage costs?
With cloud storage pricing models varying so much, it makes sense to compare summaries of these criteria to be sure you make the right choice.Continue Reading
Kryder's Law
Kryder's Law describes the rate at which former Seagate CTO Mark Kryder predicted disk drive density would grow.Continue Reading
FLAPE
FLAPE (flash plus tape) is an approach to tiered storage that allows administrators to archive data as soon as it is written.Continue Reading
RAID 3 (redundant array of independent disks)
RAID 3 is a RAID configuration that uses striping and parity, but it uses a parity disk to store the parity information generated by a RAID controller instead of striping it with the data.Continue Reading
RAID 50 (RAID 5+0)
RAID 50, also known as RAID 5+0, combines distributed parity (RAID 5) with striping (RAID 0).Continue Reading
thick provisioning
Thick provisioning pre-allocates storage capacity on a disk rather than on an as-needed basis.Continue Reading
How is big data changing data archiving strategies?
Analyst Jon Toigo explains why performing analytics on big data sets means that data is no longer considered cold, reducing the importance of archives.Continue Reading
synchronous mirroring
Synchronous mirroring is a type of data protection in which data is written to both a remote and local disk simultaneously.Continue Reading
Essential guide to desktop and laptop solid-state drives
Essential guide to laptop and desktop SSDsContinue Reading
The case for cloud storage: Cloud considerations and strategies
Before deploying your cloud storage project, learn about cloud storage use cases, how to do a cloud cost analysis and keeping data safe in the cloud.Continue Reading
The need for application-aware storage
Server virtualization leads to unpredictable workloads. Application-aware storage could be the answer.Continue Reading
Are more than five nines of availability really possible?
When cloud durability is added to the mix, cloud providers are able to tout a high number of nines of availability.Continue Reading
Cloud storage challenges and choices
Our comprehensive e-book tackles the cloud storage challenges and business decisions that surround cloud storage investments, and breaks them into three areas of concentration: architecture, availability and return on investment.
Get ...Continue ReadingWhat is object storage technology (and why should you care)?
Object technology offers scalability, economical operation and better data management; but it's very different from file and block storage systems.Continue Reading
What you need to know about flash caching
Using solid-state storage as cache can boost server and application performance dramatically, but the kind of flash cache you choose is critical.Continue Reading
Three considerations to ensure data storage efficiency
Vendors often claim their products cut out storage inefficiency, but administrators can make a difference as well with some planning.Continue Reading
bit rot
Bit rot is the slow deterioration in the performance and integrity of data stored on storage media. It is also known by the names bit decay, data rot, data decay and silent corruption.Continue Reading
Working with OpenStack storage: Tips on Cinder, Swift and the cloud
This guide explores the block, object and cloud storage offerings from OpenStack, one of the most sought-after open source storage platforms.Continue Reading
Examining the future of the RAID volume
Expert Jon Toigo provides a set of tips to answer key questions regarding RAID's place in today's storage world, and whether it will be replaced.Continue Reading
How does a scale-out NAS environment affect storage management?
Phil Goodwin explains how scale-out NAS systems simplify storage management through a single point of control and by combating performance problems.Continue Reading
A tiered storage model is different from caching
In this podcast, Evaluator Group strategist Randy Kerns looks in-depth at today's tiered storage model, including how it differs from flash caching.Continue Reading
Choosing storage for streaming large files in big data sets
Learn how to select storage that can both scale and perform to effectively stream large files in big data environments.Continue Reading
External storage might make sense for Hadoop
Using Hadoop to drive big data analytics doesn't necessarily mean building clusters of distributed storage; a good old array might be a better choice.Continue Reading
Building a better archival storage strategy
This guide walks through important tips and considerations regarding storage archive design strategies and technologies.Continue Reading
How DRAM or NVRAM cache can reduce flash SSD write amplification
DRAM/NVRAM caching provides SSD systems with better performance while reducing flash SSD write amplification.Continue Reading
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
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
Complete guide to Hadoop technology and storage
Learn how Apache Hadoop works, some of its benefits and drawbacks, and what it means for big data and cloud storage.Continue Reading
Erasure coding tradeoffs include additional storage, disk update needs
Erasure coding tradeoffs include requirement for additional data storage, need to update extra disks for redundancy purposes, UC professor cautions.Continue Reading
Erasure coding brings trade-off of resilience vs. performance
IT's decision on using erasure coding in storage rests on data importance, durability more than amount of data, says storage consultant Marc Staimer.Continue Reading
Wikibon CTO: Erasure coding can help reduce data backup costs
Erasure coding can help reduce the data needed for backups and lower the cost of backup and recovery over the traditional approach, Wikibon CTO says.Continue Reading
data destruction
Data destruction is the process of destroying data stored on tapes, hard disks and other forms of electronic media so that it is completely unreadable and cannot be accessed or used for unauthorized purposes.Continue Reading
What you need to know about improving iSCSI performance
Storage expert Dennis Martin discusses how technologies like Data Center Bridging, CHAP, IPsec and iSCSI offload adapters affect iSCSI performance.Continue Reading
Define SSD: Top terms you need to know
How do you define SSD? Check out this list of important SSD terms. The list includes terms you should know and some that may seem obscure.Continue Reading
RAID with SSD: A primer
While RAID is still a storage standard, questions remain about RAID’s relevance with SSDs. This tip will explore the basics of using RAID with SSD.Continue Reading
Brocade Communications Systems Inc. 1860 Fabric Adapter
The Brocade 1860 Fabric Adapter can partition individual physical adapters into as many as 16 virtual HBAs or virtual NICs with flexible bandwidth allocation.Continue Reading
Brocade Communications Systems Inc. 6510 SAN Switch
The Brocade 6510 SAN Switch has industry-first 16 Gbps Fibre Channel (FC) support, flexible port configuration and full-duplex 768 Gbps aggregate port throughput.Continue Reading
iSCSI storage area networks explained
In part two of our series, we examine the features of an iSCSI SAN to help you decide if it's the best SAN technology for your SMB.Continue Reading
virtual SAN appliance (VSA)
A virtual SAN appliance (VSA) is a software bundle that allows a storage manager to turn the unused storage capacity in his network's virtual servers into a storage area network (SAN).Continue Reading
EDRM: Best practices when preparing for an e-discovery request
We list the nine stages of the Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM), and tell you why the preservation and collection stage is so important to data storage pros.Continue Reading
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
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
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
Fibre Channel SAN switches tutorial
Learn all about Fibre Channel SAN switches with these articles on selecting the right switches and the best practices for managing FC switching environments.Continue Reading
megabyte (MB)
As a measure of computer processor storage and real and virtual memory, a megabyte (abbreviated MB) is 2 to the 20th power bytes, or 1,048,576 bytes in decimal notation.Continue Reading
hard drive shredder
A hard drive shredder is a mechanical device that physically destroys old hard drives in such a way that the data they contain cannot be recovered.Continue Reading