Storage Virtualization

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Initially, managing storage capacity of disk was an easy task. The computer experts got bigger disk drives if greater storage was felt. Soon when it was realized that there is increase in data storage, the computer experts attached additional disk drives for extra data storage. Soon, computer experts realized that it became lengthy and tough process to find the stored data.Network attached storage and storage area networks, RAID was designed by the computer professionals. But then too, it became immensely tough to handle and set-up thousands of disk drives. This was the time when the need for Storage Virtualization was felt. Storage Virtualization works as a relate the storage system and servers by adding a new layer of software as well as/or hardware in-between the two. If the data was stored in any disk drive or partitions and sub-systems, it became easier for the applications to get the data. This further assisted the professionals to know, handle and provide the dispersed storage just like a single, combined resource. Moreover, the availability was considerably improved with storage virtualization because the applications are not limited to particular storage resources and therefore protected from interruptions. Storage Virtualization also improves the storage capacity significantly and that too mechanically, hence decreasing manual stipulation. These can be updated instantly without disturbing the functionality of the applications, and this reduced the downtime. Technology: Storage Virtualization acts as a basic interface between the storage and servers because it is a intermediary layer. From the server end, the virtualization is regarded to be single storage devices and the storage device considers the Virtualization to be a single server. Hence, this aids to group the storage systems easily and also devices from number of sources in layers of storage. It is possible for the user to exchange the tape or disk drives conveniently and this happens due to the fact that the applications and servers are protected from any change to storage device by the layer . At the storage virtualization layer, the data copying services are also proficiently organized. Thus, this implies that the data recovery can be easily done by virtualization system at the time of disasters. As the data can be shifted at users choice, the data that is not used often or any obsolete data can be shifted to low-cost storage devices. The storage virtualization can planned in three ways: - Host Based: The traditional device drivers maintain the physical drives and the software that is above the device driver cuts off I/O commands, sees the metadata and diverts I/O. - Storage Device based: In this method, the storage virtualization is made into storage fabric. In this type of set-up, the system offers imitation and relocation services across different controllers. - Network based: In this type of arrangement, the storage virtualization is considered to be network based device. This set-up usually uses Fiber Channel Networks connected as a SAN. It is believed that all three arrangements work perfectly well. Although, the Virtualization endorses cross-vendor storage operation, helping you to handle in many vendor sources. However, you are held in particular source by majority of arrangements.

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