Storage virtualization

The virtualization is to hide the disparity of storage resources, and present them as a logical volume homogeneous. This abstraction layer acts as an intermediary broker (broker) of capacity: it provides storage space for applications, heterogeneous environments that coexist in the same representation, allows the addition of capacity on the fly, leaving the administrator implement a unified policy management données.Le storage is a sector of choice for virtualization technologies.

It allows any client (server, application, workstation) to access any storage device by any protocol. On the one hand, it organizes the storage resources in the form of a unique ability as a large disk, that are exploited by applications. On the other hand, it distributes the data in block mode on the storage infrastructure, applying management policies defined by the administrator (replication, backup, mirroring remote caches ...). Storage virtualization is an independent system of the application. It becomes possible to defer a backup disk preserving it, improving the access performance data, to rethink the Raid striping or add capacity without interfering with production. It also reduces the high cost of storage management, today estimated at 7th and administration software for an e equipment over three years. Virtualization can reduce the costs of managing 30-50% depending on the complexity of the infrastructure installed. Still, the lack of standards virtualization and a unified definition. Sometimes restricted to the SAN, disk, or backup, it should nevertheless be extended to end all operations and storage resources: DAS, NAS and SAN.

Even in the storage, virtualization is nothing new, except for those whose names VM / ESA, VSAM or VMS do not mean anything. In fact, new technologies have enabled to use this opportunity to other environments and on different hardware (memory, band, ...).

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Storage Virtualization Solution
Solutions
Overview
SANsymphony 5.0
DataCore 		Dynamic allocation of storage volumes, managing service quality and interoperability of SAN resources with IP networks. For Windows 2000 and NT but also Unix, Novell Netware and Linux.
DiskXtender
Legato - EMC 		Automatic detection of SAN switches. Facilitates the partition and segmentation volumes. Compatible with Fibre Channel. Available for Windows NT and 2000 and Unix / Linux.
IPStor
FalconStor 		Positioned on the consolidation of servers storage (RAID, JBOD) or tapes. Compatibility SAN and NAS and Fibre Channel protocols, SCSI and iSCSI.
OpenView Continuous Access Storage Appliance (CASA)
HP 		Here, the software is directly integrated into a casing, which makes him take the name of the appliance. Technology compatible Fibre Channel.
Virtual Storage Engine (VSE2)
Neartek 		Tape virtualization solution.
Virtual Storage Manager System
StorageTek 		Virtualization solution to the original tapes. Also offers virtualization solutions discs.
Storage Virtualization Manager (SVM)
StoreAge Networking Technologies 		SAN Appliance that provides unified management of virtual volumes.
TotalStorage SAN Volume Controller
IBM 		Solution of centralization and virtualization SAN. Able to handle up to 2 petabytes.
SAN Volume Manager
Veritas 		Particularly suited to SAN solution supports RAID technologies. Is closer to a storage management solution that virtualization itself.

Virtual Hard Disks, Virtual Folders

  • GmailDrive : Gmail Drive (or GmailFS) is a utility that adds the My Computer in Windows operating a virtual hard disk space allocated for your email account Gmail (Google Mail).
    OS: Windows XP, Vista / 32 bit
  • gDisk : gDisk is the Mac OS X GMailDrive. gDisk you can use the unused disk space on your Gmail account as storage space on the Internet. On first use, will create 6 gDisk default directories on your disk space Gmail.
    OS: Mac OS X 10.3, 10.4
  • Dropbox : Virtual directory displayed on the desktop or system tray allowing you to transfer your file to a secure storage area via the internet with drag and drop (drag-n-drop).
    OS: Windows, Mac OS X
  • Flickrfs : Like GmailDrive, flickrfs lets you mount a virtual hard drive using the storage space of your accounts Flickr. flickrfs used in the command line.
    OS: Linux

Online Storage

  • IDrive : Archive your files online via a file management software. Restoration can drag and drop (drag-n-drop).
    OS: Windows, Mac OS X
  • Freedrive : Storage space with access customizable. Freedrive offers a free service for a capacity of 1 GB
  • e-Safe (en): 24 hours over 24 in a few seconds, place your document in the e-safe. The documents filed are retained for six months during which you can
    at any time ask to receive a backup copy. E-box is the only online backup service free of charge and anonymous!
  • Windows Live SkyDrive : Online storage space, in addition to the Windows Live suite (drag and drop Internet Explorer)
  • PersonalGrid ™ : storage space online via your web browser. 2GB free.

Last Updated: the 31.10.2008