Virtual data storage is becoming an increasingly popular option for http://www.virtualdataspace.biz/dropbox-vs-sharefile-what-to-choose/ companies looking to reduce IT costs. In actual fact, since these solutions do not require the hardware redundancies that are typically required in traditional storage architectures for disaster recovery, they’re able to cut down on upfront costs as well as ongoing operating costs by substantial amounts.
Virtual data storage allows IT to pool physical storage devices such as SANs into an individual device, or virtual storage array. There are a few ways to utilize the technology that includes host-based virtualization as well as network-based storage (which combines storage devices from an FC or iSCSI storage system into a single pool addressed by a central management console). Host-based Virtualization is commonly found in HCI systems and cloud storage.
To function with virtual storage, it has to be compatible with underlying hardware infrastructure such as networking components and servers, as well as with the common management tools and hypervisors. It must also allow data encryption as well as granular authentication and access controls and robust backup and disaster recovery capabilities.
Additionally, the storage system must be able of addressing issues of latency and performance. This includes ensuring that critical applications run without hindering performance or increasing the time required to retrieve data. This involves evaluating the storage controller’s capabilities, network bandwidth, and capacity for disk I/O as much as deploying caching mechanisms. It also means the implementation of advanced storage functions, such as tiering and replication at the virtualization level.