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Types of storage virtualization

There are several ways to implement a virtualized storage environment. Here are the three most common.

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 Type of virtualization  Pros  Cons
  • Separate device; does not burden other network devices.
  • More fully functioned version of software.
  • Independent of storage devices.
  • Dependent on operating system.
  • Increased overhead on server.
  • All servers must implement.
  • Access to storage array is more limited than array-based systems.
  • Gives extra functionality to switch.
  • Management on same platform.
  • Lets mainframe Enterprise Systems Connection or other
  • forms of storage be added.
  • Allows aggregation over MANs/WANs.
  • Appliance CPU and memory latency.
  • Limited by appliance reliance on server platform.
  • Appliance downtime could result in failure of virtualization and access to storage.
  • Access to storage array is more limited than array-based systems.
  • Eliminates extra device.
  • Adds functionality to array.
  • Independent of operating system.
  • Intelligence in device being virtualized allows extra functionality.
  • Requires that all users have access to storage array.
  • Management services are vendor-specific.

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Contact Senior Editor Deni Connor

Other recent articles by Connor

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What if you could somehow aggregate all your storage from any type of physical device into a single pool that could be easily accessed and centrally managed? That's the promise of virtualization.

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Plumbers & Pipefitters National Pension Fund rolls out DataCore's SANsymphony to improve storage manageability.

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