Storage virtualization
Virtualization adds a layer of abstraction between storage and the applications that access it.
In this case, "abstraction" refers to the fact that the various storage media are - as far as the applications are concerned - effectively joined together into a single large entity. Your applications and management software address the contents as if they were physically on this disk and never have to worry about where the data actually is stored.
In simple terms, it is as if the C: drive on your PC extended out towards infinity, and that no matter where the data is actually stored (even if it were on a CD-ROM or some external media), you could always access it as if it were on that one disk.
This can deliver lots of value in large, complex IT situations. Not the least of such benefits is that - at least in theory - virtualization provides a very efficient method to centrally manage storage that has spread across a wide variety of platforms.
But what's the downside? The technology is being implemented in a number of ways by a number of vendors, so at this point it's hard to generalize. Questions about extensibility frequently arise - can some implementations scale painlessly to meet your increasing demands for storage space? Another question we raised recently was whether virtualization of essentially homogeneous environments could offer the rapid payback that we might expect in more complicated situations?
From Virtual benefits, Network World on Storage, 02/20/02.
Additional resources
Tech Insider: Storage virtualization
Virtualization is the buzzword in storage these days, but what does it really mean and how do you achieve it? In this report, we nail down what virtualization is and describe how the major vendors hope to get you there. Network World, 03/11/02.
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