SAN (storage area network)
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.. See complete definition.
Top Stories
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Tip
08 Oct 2021
What is SAN zoning and what are the different types of zoning?
Zoning can be set up according to server, storage and SAN switch. Discover what type of zoning to use, how zone sets extend SAN segmentation and the various zoning schemas. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Nov 2020
Comparing RAID levels: 0, 1, 5, 6, 10 and 50 explained
RAID protects data and improves storage performance and availability, but it can be confusing. Read about the different types of RAID, the pros and cons, and where they work best. Continue Reading
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News
27 Jan 2023
Next Pathway offers ETL code translation as SaaS
Next Pathway's Shift Cloud will provide companies with a pay-as-needed option for performing ETL code translation for data warehouse cloud migrations. Continue Reading
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Guest Post
26 Jan 2023
Understand SSD overheating and what to do about it
It's easy for an SSD to overheat, but there are several methods to cool it down. Keep cool, and avoid damage to the SSD's data retention and integrity. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Jan 2023
Storage vendors look to make case for sustainability
Energy costs are rising, and sustainability is all the rage. But storage vendors may struggle convincing customers to combat climate change during an economic downturn. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Jan 2023
Fibre Channel vs. iSCSI: What are the differences?
Discover how Fibre Channel and iSCSI compare when it comes to meeting SAN performance, ease of use, manageability, total package and TCO requirements. Continue Reading
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News
18 Jan 2023
HPE expands Alletra with focused storage servers
HPE released new storage servers for container and software-defined storage with the Alletra 4000. The new servers bring high compute with new Intel CPUs in a denser package. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Jan 2023
The best enterprise data storage products of 2022
Backup, cloud, disk and storage system vendors vied for top honors in the TechTarget Storage Products of the Year competition. Find out which won gold, silver and bronze. Continue Reading
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News
12 Jan 2023
Micron's 9400 U.3 SSD aimed at AI, ML workloads
Micron has expanded its NVMe SSD portfolio with the 9400 U.3, a TLC drive designed to provide high-performance storage for high-performance use cases. Continue Reading
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News
11 Jan 2023
Amazon S3 now encrypts data by default
AWS has changed a setting for new Amazon S3 buckets to encrypt data by default, a move that increases data protection and places more emphasis on customer security. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Jan 2023
Advantages and disadvantages of storing data in the cloud
Organizations that want to reduce on-site storage costs can consider cloud for easy pricing models and scalability. However, take note of drawbacks such as lack of data control. Continue Reading
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Feature
09 Jan 2023
Data growth to help storage vendors weather slowing economy
The economy may be slowing down, but reliance on data isn't -- a reality that might help enterprise storage vendors wade through economic turbulence in 2023. Continue Reading
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News
09 Jan 2023
Microsoft acquires DPU maker Fungible
Microsoft has acquired Fungible, possibly giving Azure its own data processing units. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Dec 2022
Top data storage best practices include security, sustainability
Budgets are tight and risks are pervasive, so it's critical for admins to get the most out of storage. These tips touch on areas such as sensitive data storage and sustainability. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Dec 2022
Top 5 data storage trends for 2023
These five data storage trends include some that are just starting to get hot and some that are gaining in relevance, including sustainability and cloud repatriation. Continue Reading
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News
22 Dec 2022
RackTop Systems, Seagate deepen partnership for secure NAS
RackTop Systems and Seagate are offering more in turnkey storage appliances and private cloud integration, combining security software into primary storage devices. Continue Reading
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News
21 Dec 2022
VMware adds managed storage service for VMs on AWS
Cloud Flex Storage by VMware provides to customers of VMware Cloud on AWS a managed storage service with cloud console provisioning. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Dec 2022
The future of data storage must handle heavy volume
Storage manufacturers have an eye on the future with investments in technologies, but it's unclear if they will be able to effectively counter the exponential rise in data volumes. Continue Reading
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Feature
16 Dec 2022
Explore 5 secure data storage best practices
From access control to air gapping and beyond, IT administrators should employ several technologies and procedures to help ensure they have secure data storage. Continue Reading
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News
15 Dec 2022
Software moved needle for enterprise storage in 2022
Consultants and analysts say SaaS and cloud sales will dominate enterprise storage market into 2023. But hardware innovations are still possible and on the horizon. Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Dec 2022
Prep school uses Wasabi storage to protect student data
A Connecticut prep school with a massive amount of data to protect chose a combination of cloud storage providers to get the job done within a tight budget. Continue Reading
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News
12 Dec 2022
Updates to Ctera global file system target regulated industries
Data deduplication, edge caching, encryption key management and permanent delete all empower administrators in the new Ctera 7.5 global file system update. Continue Reading
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News
09 Dec 2022
New OpenDrives CEO on the current state of storage
Izhar Sharon weighs in on the evolving direction of the company, the commoditization of hardware and storage trends for the year ahead. Continue Reading
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Opinion
09 Dec 2022
AWS re:Invent storage updates aim to maximize data value
Among the multitude of announcements at AWS re:Invent 2022, storage was a focus for the cloud vendor. Amazon EFS specifically had several enhancements. Continue Reading
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Feature
09 Dec 2022
Automation company swaps Isilon for software-defined storage
The Swedish automation company Hexagon needed super scale and performance for its files. The new SDS upgrade speeds up customer response times. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Dec 2022
A guide to AWS storage cost
Amazon S3, FSx, Elastic File System and Elastic Block Store have different price structures, but data use remains the top factor in determining the cost of cloud storage. Continue Reading
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News
02 Dec 2022
AWS' Kevin Miller talks S3 in 2023 and beyond
Amazon S3 has become a massive portfolio of products, which only grew at re:Invent 2022. Here, the vice president and general manager of S3 talks about what's next. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Nov 2022
2022 data storage conference list reflects cloud, flash trends
In 2022, storage vendors returned to in-person shows. The data storage conference calendar included such major events as Dell Technologies World and HPE Discover. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Nov 2022
Amazon EBS vs. EFS: An 'elastic' comparison
Elastic Block Store and Elastic File System are two of Amazon's most popular storage types. Compare how they store data before deciding which one to use. Continue Reading
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Answer
22 Nov 2022
SAN vs. NAS vs. DAS: Key differences and best use cases
Compare SAN, NAS and DAS and find out what to consider when using each type of storage system. Object storage and the cloud are additional available storage options. Continue Reading
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News
22 Nov 2022
Scality's Ring9 adds NVMe storage tier, new APIs
Scality Ring introduces its ninth major update, bringing an all-NVMe tier for better performance and new APIs for tighter integration to tools and third-party applications. Continue Reading
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News
21 Nov 2022
Dell PowerFlex comes to AWS for hybrid cloud storage
Dell brings its software-defined storage PowerFlex to AWS. The new offering is part of its Project Alpine initiative to connect its storage OSes to hyperscalers. Continue Reading
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News
18 Nov 2022
Seagate quietly expands multi-actuator HDD product line
Seagate has added to its multi-actuator line of Exos 2X HDDs, now offering up to 18 TB in capacity in its attempt to start paving the way for future use cases. Continue Reading
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Guest Post
18 Nov 2022
Track evolution in storage security standards, technologies
It's going to take a layered approach to handle all the security threats that storage administrators face. Strategies such as zero-trust architecture and encryption can help. Continue Reading
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Opinion
17 Nov 2022
NetApp BlueXP and the journey to an 'evolved cloud'
With BlueXP and Astra, NetApp has a plan for data and application management across cloud locations. The vendor seeks to help customers reach what it calls an 'evolved cloud.' Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Nov 2022
How to use S3-compatible storage
Amazon S3 is a popular platform for object storage. Through the use of APIs, though, storage vendors can offer their own take on S3, potentially improving management and cost. Continue Reading
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News
09 Nov 2022
Samsung begins producing 1 terabit TLC NAND
Samsung has begun mass production on its latest generation of V-NAND, bringing 1 terabit per chip to raise density and increase speed. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Nov 2022
A comparison of distributed file systems
There are many different distributed file systems available, so careful analysis of the options, as well as good project management, helps ensure a successful installation. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Nov 2022
How to effectively compare storage system performance
Your power as a buyer is stronger before the sale closes: Ask for what's required to effectively evaluate storage vendors' system performance. Continue Reading
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News
01 Nov 2022
Promises, potential pitfalls of software-enabled flash
An open source project is aiming to upend how storage architecture runs, but for developers to see potential gains, they'll have to invest in both hardware and software. Continue Reading
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News
01 Nov 2022
NetApp unites storage services under one console with BlueXP
Storage vendor NetApp launches a free web service aimed at providing on-premises hardware or SaaS customers visibility into their hybrid cloud infrastructure. Continue Reading
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Feature
31 Oct 2022
A primer on CXL technology uses
The Compute Express Link, an open source memory interconnect, is gaining traction. Take a deep dive into why it's important and how it improves performance. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Oct 2022
Filmmaker uses NAS storage for better collaboration
With normal workflows out the window, horror filmmaker Damien LeVeck eased the collaborative movie editing process by going all-in with Blackmagic Cloud Store. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Oct 2022
Stay organized with 6 file storage best practices
File storage can quickly become disorganized without organizational planning. Use best practices like retention policies and naming conventions to easily manage file storage. Continue Reading
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News
25 Oct 2022
Verity ES launches enterprise-grade data deletion software
Verity ES, a new spinoff from data deletion specialist Revert Inc., has emerged from stealth and is focused on platter purging for enterprise customers. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Oct 2022
7 NAS encryption best practices to protect data
Data storage security is as important now as it's ever been. Encryption is one way to make NAS devices more secure against such threats as ransomware. Continue Reading
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News
20 Oct 2022
St. Luke's triages healthcare data management for hospitals
Storage administrators for a network of hospitals and medical offices across Idaho turn to tagging and tiering software to staunch unstructured and ever-growing healthcare data. Continue Reading
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News
20 Oct 2022
IBM introduces Diamondback tape library for cloud providers
IBM's Diamondback tape library delivers 27 PB of capacity in a single rack space. The technology is geared to cloud and service providers as cheap, efficient storage. Continue Reading
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News
13 Oct 2022
Managed SAN service enters preview on Microsoft Azure
Microsoft Azure's newest managed storage service, now in preview, supports demanding enterprise SANs fully in the cloud. Azure also added faster SSD storage and a performance tier. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Oct 2022
DPUs vs. SmartNICs: What storage admins need to know
To determine whether a SmartNIC or DPU is right for their organization, admins must understand the capabilities of different kinds of NICs and DPUs. Continue Reading
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News
04 Oct 2022
IBM integrates Red Hat storage for hybrid cloud
IBM storage has integrated Red Hat OpenShift Data Foundation and Ceph into its new hybrid cloud data storage offering. Analysts said the move is good for both vendors. Continue Reading
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News
03 Oct 2022
Spot by NetApp exec on acquisitions and catalog slimming
In this Q&A, Spot by NetApp's Kevin McGrath talks about the future of Fylamynt, evolving partnerships with hyperscalers and how buying teams for Spot's technology are changing. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Sep 2022
State tax agency nixes slow HDD backup for speedier flash
The Mississippi Department of Revenue chose an all-flash storage and backup setup to maximize app performance and minimize headaches after a spinning-platter disaster. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Sep 2022
4 NAS devices for enterprises in 2023
If you're considering a NAS device for your organization, discover the factors to evaluate and some vendor offerings to add to your NAS shopping list. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Sep 2022
Cloud storage vs. data center: How to choose
It's essential to have efficient and cost-effective data storage. Both cloud and data center storage offer good options, so understand your needs before you choose. Continue Reading
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News
27 Sep 2022
Storage vendors pitching self-service as-a-service
Storage vendors like Dell Technologies are adding self-service products to their as-a-service portfolios, directed at enterprises seeking to keep daily operation in house. Continue Reading
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News
26 Sep 2022
HPE expands Alletra with lower prices and more options
HPE added the hybrid Alletra 5000 to its block storage portfolio and GreenLake, giving customers more capacity and more consumption options while lowering costs. Continue Reading
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News
26 Sep 2022
Lenovo launches entry-level block storage arrays
Lenovo has released to the entry-level market new all-flash and hybrid arrays, which provide companies with a boost in previous performance, and has unified hardware management. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Sep 2022
How to set up a NAS: A step-by-step configuration guide
Get the most out of your rackmount NAS appliance by configuring admin accounts, permissions and network access; running a diagnostic check; and configuring advanced options. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Sep 2022
TGI Fridays dishes up modern hybrid cloud storage
TGI Fridays' corporate IT team traded business headaches from end- of-life hardware to a modern hybrid cloud storage system using Nasuni and Microsoft Azure. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Sep 2022
NAS vs. cloud storage: Which is better for your business?
On-site NAS and cloud-based NAS are the two main file storage options. Organizations need to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each to make the best choice. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
21 Sep 2022
Proper storage performance testing: A tutorial
This step-by-step guide details how to prepare for and perform storage performance tests. Explore methods for choosing the right tool for your testing. Continue Reading
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News
21 Sep 2022
IntelliProp CEO describes how CXL will change memory market
In this Q&A, IntelliProp CEO John Spiers talks about his vision for CXL and how it will affect both storage performance and the storage market. Continue Reading
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Answer
20 Sep 2022
How do storage scalability and elasticity differ?
Storage elasticity is less well known than scalability, but it helps admins with efficiency and cost. Both elasticity and scalability are key to modern storage systems. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Sep 2022
Consider the advantages and disadvantages of NAS
NAS devices provide file sharing that is easy to manage but may be harder to scale than other storage types. Get to know the advantages and disadvantages of NAS. Continue Reading
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News
16 Sep 2022
IXsystems, Storj unveil distributed storage feature
As an alternative to AWS S3 or storage-as-a-service offerings, iXsystems and Storj now offer a distributed storage model on TrueNAS Scale for $4 per TB, per month. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Sep 2022
Tips to achieve compliance with GDPR in cloud storage
GDPR compliance can be tricky in the cloud since organizations aren't the owners and processors of cloud storage. Research cloud vendors, and craft a plan to ensure compliance. Continue Reading
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News
08 Sep 2022
NAND prices drop, but customers won't benefit
Supply chain disruptions, recession fears and war in Ukraine have helped push the price of NAND down sharply, but OEMs may not lower their prices any time soon. Continue Reading
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News
08 Sep 2022
Storage, backup services to expand on Google Cloud Platform
Google Cloud Platform adds new features and managed services, including high-performance block storage, Kubernetes backup services and new products using Actifio technology. Continue Reading
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Answer
07 Sep 2022
NAS vs. object storage: What's best for unstructured data storage?
There are advantages and disadvantages to using NAS or object storage for unstructured data. Find out what to consider when it comes to scalability, performance and workload type. Continue Reading
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News
01 Sep 2022
StorPool tests high-end block storage software in AWS
StorPool Storage's block storage software can now run on AWS for enterprise applications that demand hyperscale performance. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Aug 2022
Ride through racetrack memory and its storage implications
IBM is working on a concept called racetrack memory, which is one of a few possibilities for the future of storage. But is it feasible, and when will it be commercially viable? Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Aug 2022
NAS vs. server: Which storage option should you choose?
NAS and server-based storage have unique attributes that support a variety of storage and DR applications, and each can be supplemented by cloud-based storage as needed. Continue Reading
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News
26 Aug 2022
The legacy of Optane goes on
Intel's storage class memory has ceased production, but the technology and the mission for cheaper, more performant storage disrupted an entire market. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Aug 2022
Explore software-defined storage pros and cons
Software-defined storage gives organizations more flexibility and often lower costs, but be prepared to self-troubleshoot. Get to know the pros and cons of SDS. Continue Reading
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News
25 Aug 2022
Kioxia looks back at 35 years of NAND -- and at what's ahead
Kioxia invented NAND memory 35 years ago. At FMS, the company highlighted the technological achievements of NAND while introducing new SSDs and protocols. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Aug 2022
The storage administrator is dead; long live the storage admin
IT employers still see the value of keeping storage administrator jobs in house despite the allure of savings with managed services. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Aug 2022
7 guidelines to secure network storage
These practices, including firmware and VPN guidance, protect NAS devices. Use these steps as standalone procedures or incorporate them into your overall security process. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Aug 2022
Explore 7 software-defined storage companies
Software-defined storage offerings are all over the map, in uses, features and types of platform. These seven software-defined storage companies include several IT giants. Continue Reading
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Feature
19 Aug 2022
Data storage interview questions for your next storage role
Data storage administrators must be able to adapt and optimize storage for evolving workloads and business needs. Here are some questions to prepare for in an interview. Continue Reading
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News
18 Aug 2022
Infinidat guarantees 1-minute restore of primary storage
Infinidat has several guarantees around availability and performance, as well as the ability to recover and restore an immutable snapshot on primary storage in less than a minute. Continue Reading
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Opinion
18 Aug 2022
Understand the Intel Optane shutdown
Intel's upcoming shutdown of Optane follows multibillion-dollar losses. However, some technology benefits came out of the IT giant's effort to improve storage performance. Continue Reading
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News
17 Aug 2022
New Amazon File Cache service takes on Ctera, Nasuni
A new service for faster access to storage in AWS cloud challenges the capabilities of many other cloud vendors, but lacks important components. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Aug 2022
Compare software-defined storage vs. storage virtualization
SDS and storage virtualization are two approaches that help storage teams efficiently and cost-effectively manage resources. Examine the differences between the two. Continue Reading
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News
16 Aug 2022
Cloudian's new load balancer targets object storage sprawl
Cloudian customers can simplify support needs and hardware misconfigurations with the new HyperBalance load balancer, the result of a new partnership with LoadBalancer.org. Continue Reading
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Report
15 Aug 2022
TechTarget Storage Products of the Year 2022 nomination form
Nominate your favorite or best storage products for the annual TechTarget Storage Products of the Year awards. Continue Reading
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Feature
15 Aug 2022
TechTarget Storage Products of the Year judging criteria
This article discusses how products are judged for the TechTarget Storage Products of the Year awards. Continue Reading
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Report
15 Aug 2022
Tips from our judges
This article offers 10 tips on how to submit a product for consideration in the TechTarget Storage Products of the Year awards. Continue Reading
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News
08 Aug 2022
Phison's new X1 controller to power Seagate SSD
Seagate continues its partnership with Phison through the release of the X1, a customizable SSD controller that promises higher performance and lower power use. Continue Reading
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Answer
05 Aug 2022
What are the top 5 Amazon S3 storage security best practices?
Public bucket access is a prevalent and discussed S3 security issue. However, there are several other important security measures to take, including monitoring and MFA. Continue Reading
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News
04 Aug 2022
How customers could be affected by MinIO-Nutanix dispute
MinIO revoked Nutanix's open source license, which could mean customers would have to work with Nutanix on how to best use its Objects product moving forward. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Aug 2022
Differences in scale-up vs. scale-out storage
Scaling up and scaling out are both approaches to increase storage capacity. To decide which approach to take, consider short- and long-term requirements. Continue Reading
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News
29 Jul 2022
Intel pulls the plug on Optane
Intel will wind down its storage class memory business as it plans to shift focus elsewhere, while still supporting current customers using the technology. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Jul 2022
What to know about SMART SSD use
This overview of SMART attributes in SSDs explains how organizations can put them to good use. SMART SSDs provide peace of mind about device life span. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Jul 2022
Explore top AWS storage types for file, block, object
There are several AWS storage types, but these four offerings cover file, block and object storage needs. Explore how the cloud storage choices compare with each other. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Jul 2022
Tips to plan storage elements of artificial intelligence
Author and data engineer Chinmay Arankalle explores how organizations can manage storage for AI. Management and storage options include data lakes and high-performance storage. Continue Reading
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News
27 Jul 2022
Micron breaks the 200-layer barrier in NAND
Micron is shipping a 232-layer NAND that brings higher density and performance with potentially lower costs, starting on the client side before moving to the data center. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Jul 2022
How to plan for a potential data storage shortage
Try saying 'data storage shortage' five times fast. Hopefully you won't need to say it often in the near future, but with escalating data volumes, planning is key. Continue Reading
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News
26 Jul 2022
StorOne scales storage for free
StorOne's new Scale-for-Free pricing model, with its license fees per drive instead of per capacity, targets storage consumers that wish to use larger media for a set price. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Jul 2022
A primer on disaggregated storage
Disaggregated storage enables organizations to scale compute and storage separately for high-performance, low-latency workloads. Some benefits are cost savings and flexibility. Continue Reading
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News
25 Jul 2022
Biotech company saves on data management through software
Biotech maker PacBio gleaned big savings and organized a mountain of data when it added data management tools for its local hardware and data silos. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Jul 2022
Best practices for legal hold storage
Storing data for legal holds could be a mission-critical task. Storage admins should understand how to prepare for legal holds and deal with them when they occur. Continue Reading