Ask any project manager if it's possible to deliver something that is fast, good, and cheap, and they'll laugh. The phenomenon known as the Iron Triangle limits just about everything in the world from meeting all three conflicting requirements. Yet, for the last two decades, enterprise storage array vendors have been trying to deliver just this. How's that working … [Read more...] about The Fat Middle: Today’s Enterprise Storage Array
SAN
Is Storage the Killer App for Software-Defined Networking?
Software Defined Networking (SDN) has always looked a bit like a solution in search of a problem, at least in the enterprise data center. But there are lots of potential applications that need a dynamic and scalable network. In my mind, storage is chief among these, since scalability and flexibility has always been extremely difficult to achieve. As I have written before, … [Read more...] about Is Storage the Killer App for Software-Defined Networking?
The I/O Blender Part 1: Ye Olde Storage I/O Path
Back in the day, when data was smaller and servers were machines, I/O followed a predictable pattern. Storage arrays could anticipate requests and RAID was beautiful. Then came virtualization, and with it an end to ye olde storage I/O path. Server = HBA = LUN It was a simpler time back in the 1990's. Each server had a SCSI host bus adapter (HBA) of its own. Maybe two, if … [Read more...] about The I/O Blender Part 1: Ye Olde Storage I/O Path
Are You a Hypervisor Hugger or a Storage Stalwart?
The time has come to take sides on the core question of storage for virtual servers: Do you want storage intelligence to live in the hypervisor or the array? Most administrators are already lining up on one side or the other, unintentionally casting their vote while the rest flounder. But the storage industry must wake up and embrace the divide. Hypervisor Huggers … [Read more...] about Are You a Hypervisor Hugger or a Storage Stalwart?
Interop NYC and The Great Debate: ISCSI Beats Fibre Channel
Update Happily I was able to record both my presentation and The Great Debate with Stu! Although I'm a long-time Fibre Channel user, and certainly not the sort of person who denies the capabilities of that hallowed storage protocol, is it really necessary anymore? On Thursday, October 6, I'll be taking up the challenge and debating Stu Miniman on this very topic as … [Read more...] about Interop NYC and The Great Debate: ISCSI Beats Fibre Channel