Storage consolidation in the form of a SAN or NAS/SAN combination holds the promise of better storage utilization with lower management overhead. The challenge going forward is to manage all storage resources for maximum efficiency and reduced enterprise risk. In the face of rampant storage growth, IT leaders need to ensure that network storage consolidation includes a storage management strategy...

Storage trends point to the emergence of new iSCSI SAN and NAS/SAN products for small- to mid-sized businesses (SMBs). This will have a ripple effect on storage product capabilities and pricing throughout all enterprises. These solutions address storage goals shared by all enterprises while meeting the unique needs of SMBs.

Server virtualization and iSCSI networked storage are emerging as a natural match particularly for small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) buying their first storage area network. Info-Tech recommends that enterprises considering a storage area network (SAN) purchase should consider broader strategic goals of availability, recoverability, and infrastructure flexibility. Virtualization is a likely...

In the world of virtualized x86-based servers and applications, management tools become the primary differentiator between hypervisors. Virtualization is quickly moving to a set of competing, but effectively equivalent, products. The ability to manage these virtualized environments, especially in heterogeneous environments, will be the critical factor for data centers in 2009 and beyond.

A recent Info-Tech study of over 800 organizations assessed green initiatives in IT departments and across enterprises. The results show the current green IT maturity landscape and its future outlook. Despite tough economic times, there is still an opportunity for green maturity growth since such initiatives not only benefit the environment but also the bottom line. Understand the green trends of...

This tool allows enterprises to benchmark their green IT maturity scores against over 800 peers by revenue, IT budget, and number of employees. Find out what environmental actions other companies are taking in their IT departments and across the entire enterprise. Consider Info-Tech's recommendations for next steps to take to increase green IT maturity.

Networked storage file virtualization can lead to better utilization of Network Attached Storage (NAS) appliances and other storage servers. This technology – which is also sometimes called NAS virtualization and File Area Networks (FANs) – will be attractive to larger enterprises with extensive NAS investment looking for a consolidation alternative to Storage Area Networks (SANs).

Enterprises are growing their storage infrastructures to meet ever increasing demand but have not focused enough attention on storage management. Storage Resource Management (SRM) promises to reduce complexity and streamline storage management by providing a single “pane of glass” for monitoring, analyzing, and actively managing complex heterogeneous enterprise storage. Enterprises with large and...

When it comes to archiving strategies that meet legislative compliance, fixed content must be managed differently than dynamic content. Although Content Addressed Storage (CAS) promises full-lifecycle archiving to ensure compliance, it is just one part of a larger framework for managing data, and must be evaluated carefully.

Data classification can be a time-consuming task, but it is a critical first step for many different types of projects. Discover and classify enterprise data properly in order to reduce costs, increase compliance, and efficiently manage stored resources.

E-mail archiving is a valuable tool to respond to litigation. But it also drives tactical benefits through improved storage utilization and an increased ability to restore lost or accidentally deleted messages. These benefits must not be underestimated.

Storage vendors realize that networked storage needs to be more interoperable and standards-based to support utility infrastructure. However, competition rather than cooperation will drive the emergence of better storage management software based on the Storage Management Initiative Specification (SMI-S).

In an ideal storage management world, all storage beyond the network switch can be abstracted into logical storage volumes. However, in the real world, storage systems are differentiated by proprietary management. Despite concerns over vendor lock-in, IT decision makers should consider the real storage management benefits that can come from virtualization.

Disaster recovery objectives are a key driver of storage consolidation in a Storage Area Network (SAN). To enable high availability and recoverability, storage replication is a must. As more enterprises move toward consolidated NAS and SAN storage, this note goes back to basics and looks at the pros and cons of various approaches to replication.

Storage network vendors are hyping Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) for managing storage on converged high speed Ethernet networks. Alternatively, FCoE can merely be seen as Fibre Channel vendors fighting the inevitable advance of iSCSI on 10 Gigabit Ethernet. Cut through the hype by understanding FCoE technology and its supposed value for the data center.

The hard drive of a VMware virtual machine is essentially one big data file. This makes them relatively easy to create, deploy, and even move across physical hosts. However, what leads to more agility and flexibility in virtual machines also poses a challenge for backup administration. This note looks at the advantages and challenges of three common methods of VMware backup and what is needed to...

Data deduplication has become a mainstream component of backup software and disk-to-disk backup appliances, such as Virtual Tape Libraries (VTLs). It has proven to provide a means to streamline backups and save money for the enterprise.

A storage area network (SAN) is a critical requirement for providing virtual servers with high availability and dynamic provisioning. However, the same technology that virtualizes servers can also be used to create a virtual SAN array. Smaller enterprises and branch office virtual machine deployment can reap significant savings from a virtual SAN.

To keep unwanted data out of a company's network while also preventing restricted information from leaving it, content filtering and data leakage protection are two vital tools in the security toolbox. Stay ahead of the curve by adopting these tools to protect your company's vital information assets.

The success of iSCSI storage products from EqualLogic (now part of Dell) and LeftHand Networks (acquired by HP) is largely seen as a sign of the progress of iSCSI. However, iSCSI alone is not the whole story. It is a cluster storage approach that also makes these solutions attractive. Now clustered iSCSI will be championed by larger vendors that continue to have a stake in traditional network...

E-mail leaves many enterprises feeling exposed by litigation concerns, e-mail server performance issues, or compliance burdens. All enterprises should assess the need for implementing an e-mail archiving solution or moving the existing implementation to the next level. This report will guide enterprises in determining an appropriate e-mail archiving maturity level.

With rampant data growth and pressure for legal and regulatory compliance, failure to act on a storage management strategy exposes the enterprise to wasted investment and increased risk. The term “storage management” encompasses a number of practices and technologies. Take a holistic approach to the total cost of enterprise storage, which includes risk mitigation. Focus on matching storage value...

The best Storage Area Network (SAN) strategy is one that is deeply integrated with the enterprise’s goals for infrastructure consolidation and continuity/disaster recovery planning. The need for more storage may get the ball moving, but these two strategic issues will take it to the end zone. Put the SAN purchase in the planning context of moving to a consolidated utility infrastructure.

Tiered storage is often thought of as a storage asset management issue with each storage tier composed of different storage hardware. More meaningful to the business, however, is to view tiered storage in terms of service tiers. An efficient storage strategy matches the investment in each storage service tier with the value of the data that it serves.

Learn to build a Green IT Action Plan by setting realistic goals and choosing projects that IT can perform autonomously. The resulting environmental benefits and cost savings help prove that more extensive projects are both feasible and necessary. Use this knowledge to promote cross-enterprise collaboration on leading green initiatives.

The small to mid-sized enterprise market continues to be a very competitive field for storage vendors as they struggle to meet growing needs at an affordable cost. In evaluating Storage Area Network (SAN) products, decision makers should consider how solutions address critical issues around managing consolidation as well as business continuity.

Some organizations want to green their IT departments but are unaware of what options are available and what factors ensure successful implementation. Info-Tech identifies nine green IT initiatives that organizations should consider not only to be greener, but also to improve the bottom line. Understand the key success factors of green IT to realize both environmental and business benefits.

Based on data from a recent Info-Tech study, this tool assesses an organization's chances of success when implementing green IT initiatives. Understand the organization's current probability of success and consider recommendations to improve this score to realize the business and environmental benefits of green IT.

Storage Resource Management (SRM) aspires to help the enterprise achieve critical storage management goals across large and complex storage infrastructures. The critical goals of any storage management solution are the efficient allocation and utilization of storage as well as reduced enterprise risk. SRM solutions generally fall short of the ideal of single pane-of-glass management across...

Storage area networks have come downstream as both tier one vendors and smaller players aggressively target the mid-market. The hot zone for storage sales is in solutions priced from $30,000 up to $160,000. First time SAN buyers are looking to consolidate their storage infrastructure. Enterprises that already have one SAN are broadening their consolidated storage coverage to meet server...

In recent years, SAN technology has shifted even further down market with inexpensive SAN-in-a-box solutions specifically for small enterprises. These solutions are also often marketed for branch offices and departments within larger enterprises. This Vendor Landscape looks at key offerings in the entry-level SAN category.

Clustered storage is a departure from traditional storage arrays. In clustered storage, the focus is less on one big array and more on a cluster or grid of storage modules or nodes. Clustered storage has been a disruptive force in the small to mid-sized enterprise market challenging traditional solutions across this space. This Vendor Landscape note looks at leading providers of clustered storage...

SAN arrays have traditionally been very expensive solutions chiefly targeted at large enterprises with large-scale high performance storage needs and deep pockets. The focus with mid-range arrays is typically to bring enterprise storage area network features and functions into a package within the price range of mid-sized enterprises. This includes offerings from tier one storage vendors as well...

Computer Associates BrightStor SRM is a full featured SRM product that provides all the key SRM functions of monitoring, analyzing, and reporting on storage utilization across heterogeneous storage infrastructures. This competent and competitive product has not been strongly promoted by Computer Associates. Enterprises looking for a hardware agnostic alternative to Symantec, as well as those with...

EMC ControlCenter Storage is focused on providing a single pane of glass view of all storage and storage devices to lower management costs and provide the basis for enterprise wide information lifecycle management. EMC is the leader in the overall storage software market and can claim considerable market share for its SRM products. ControlCenter should be on the short list of any enterprise...

From topology visualization and reporting through provisioning, capacity management, and quota management, HP Storage Essentials covers all the Storage Resource Management (SRM) bases. In 2005, Hewlett-Packard acquired App/IQ – an early SRM standout for its standards-based visualization of heterogeneous storage – and re-christened it Storage Essentials. Through integration with other modules in...

IBM TotalStorage Productivity Center (TPC) segments SRM into three separately deployable modules for "disk", "data", and “fabric” providing some flexibility for installation. IBM also offers a "free" limited version of TPC, TPC Limited Edition, which can be used in smaller installations and proof of concept testing. TPC will have particular appeal to IBM-centric shops that want to extend...

Northern Parklife’s Northern Storage Suite is attractive to enterprises that have identified rampant growth in unregulated unstructured files as their number one pain point in storage management. Northern is a leader in the quota management aspect of Storage Resource Management (SRM). With deep experience in the Windows environment, the company recently expanded its focus to include NetApp’s Data...

NTP Software will be a more attractive option for enterprises focused mainly on the quota management aspect of Storage Resource Management (SRM). A veteran player in the storage file/quota management, NTP has more recently branched out to include products for storage monitoring and analysis. This leading core strength and follower expansion is represented by two products – Software QFS (Quota and...

Onaro is an aggressive, younger company that is receiving increasing notice for its SANscreen analysis and reporting product. With exemplary predictive analytics, change management support, and tracking of replicated storage volumes, Onaro focuses its “Storage Services Management” products on providing solutions for specific business and technical storage problems. Enterprises looking for solid...

With Veritas CommandCentral Storage, Symantec has a full-featured Storage Resource Management (SRM) package that covers all of the SRM bases of functionality at competitive prices. Symantec has a depth of features and breadth across heterogeneous storage as well as marginally better ease of installation and competitive pricing (for a comprehensive suite). CommandCentral Storage should be on the...

With solid customer and revenue growth, Tek-Tools has emerged as a strong contender in the Storage Resource Management (SRM) tools market. Strengths of Tek-Tools include a modular approach and competitive pricing. Enterprises can build their SRM portfolio one piece at a time, focusing only on SRM modules that address a specific pain point. Enterprises focused mainly on the analytics/reporting...

3PARdata has long embraced the idea of utility infrastructure and offers innovative and scalable storage systems competing with EMC and IBM in large enterprises and some larger, mid-sized enterprises. With added iSCSI connectivity and a new InServ E200 storage server, 3PAR is taking steadier aim at the requirements for mid-sized enterprises. However, 3PAR’s overall gaze is still fixed on large...

Compellent has made great progress in the mid-market and has developed a very strong product set. New features such as Data Progression demonstrate that this company has a firm handle on where SAN storage is going. However, Compellent is still very much a buying risk because of its small size. Though Compellent stepped up to the plate with strong features, the entire mid-range SAN market has...

Dell has been a SAN pioneer at the entry level with EMC co-manufacturing the AX100 and now the AX150. However, the Dell approach does not scale well into the more sophisticated needs and complex environments of the mid-range enterprise. Though still priced competitively, Dell has not become a service and software powerhouse like HP, IBM, or EMC.

EMC is a market leader and the vendor to beat in the mid- to large-sized SME space. EMC does not rest on its laurels – it has been aggressive in bringing its products to the mid-sized enterprise market. Both small and large competitors put EMC at the top of their lists of teams to beat.

EqualLogic will continue to grow in the mid-range Storage Area Network (SAN) market, building the iSCSI user base beyond the startup phase. However, EqualLogic remains a risky investment in pricing and implementation. To mitigate this risk, EqualLogic must continue to grow revenue and offer highly competitive SAN solutions that address the specific needs of small to mid-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Hitachi Data Systems (HDS) is a solid bet for mid-range to upper mid-range storage needs. HDS has not typically been a top-of-mind vendor for SME storage purchases and it lagged behind its traditional competitors in adding iSCSI connectivity. However, the company has been more aggressive in courting the mid-market through 2006. In terms of pricing and capacity, HDS is better positioned for...

HP offers good support and services, and is regaining leadership in the Storage Area Network (SAN) market with a renewed strategy and stronger marketing. HP’s Enterprise Virtual Array (EVA) product line is disrupting the large SME space and putting competitors on notice. SAN purchasers should shortlist HP and consider starting with the iSCSI version of the EVA product. HP SAN technology would be...

With a remarkable breadth and depth of storage products, IBM remains a safe bet for mid-sized enterprises looking to purchase SAN equipment. IBM has a strong mid-range solution in its TotalStorage offerings built on the DS4000 series. For iSCSI, IBM has turned to resale partner Network Appliance (NetApp). While this partnership has positive potential for both companies, IBM appears to be a...

Intransa has faced its share of growing pains including a half a dozen CEOs between 2003 and 2005. Under its latest leader, CEO Tom Alexander, the company stabilized management and re-focused its business strategy. With a strong IP SAN product line-up, a global reach, and continued innovative developments, Intransa is a vendor loaded with potential. However, it faces a steep uphill climb as it...

With an impressive product that has a proven track record, all IT departments planning a SAN purchase should seriously consider LeftHand Networks, particularly those managing storage across networks of Windows servers. LeftHand’s primary challenge is the increasing competition from larger vendors such as Network Appliance (NetApp) and EMC as iSCSI has become less of a product differentiator.

MPC is a worthy competitor for other IP SAN vendors such as LeftHand and Intransa, as well as top-tier volume sellers HP and Dell. It offers flexible storage capacity and management with options for various support and protection plans. MPC must grow in its current market share beyond current areas of strength (such as government agencies) and become successful in bundling both product line and...

Network Appliance (NetApp) has been a leader in networked storage for more than a decade. The company is a pioneer of Network-Attached Storage (NAS) devices, and as Storage Area Networks (SANs) became more accessible to the mid-market, NetApp evolved their product line to handle both file and block-level SAN storage. In the process, NetApp became a pioneer in two emerging product classes –...

The Former StoneFly Networks, now StoneFly Inc, stands as an excellent example of both the potential and the risks of a small startup. An evangelist of Ethernet-based IP SAN technology, StoneFly has demonstrated a clear focus on its target market of mid-tier organizations, workgroups, and enterprise departments looking for comprehensive turnkey storage management solutions. But compelling product...

Sun Microsystems is a solid vendor without an effective SAN strategy for the SME market. Sun’s pricing structure and limited feature set undermines potential SME opportunities. These factors stop Sun from becoming a top-of-mind vendor and a strong mid-market player. Only SAN prospects with a heavy Sun hardware investment should consider Sun SANs.

Key factors affecting SAN adoption include ease of implementation and management, as well as affordability. Xiotech Corporation, a privately owned, well-established storage vendor, addresses these issues with an affordable SAN solution that is very easy to install and manage. Among smaller storage companies, Xiotech has a leading profile and continues to improve its technology and brand awareness.

DataCore Software offers affordable, innovative, and flexible storage solutions for small or large enterprises. DataCore can transform an industry standard server into a storage controller with advanced management features. The storage server virtualizes a range of attached storage into a managed storage pool. DataCore is a worthy alternative for enterprises looking at clustered and pooled...

EMC is the market leader and the vendor to beat in the storage arena. In uncertain economic times, those looking for the security of best-of-breed products from a corporate leader should consider EMC products. Small to mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) should look for EMC products sold through an SME-focused reseller.

As software-based storage vendors make a mark for themselves, FalconStor remains a contender with innovative products and solutions. FalconStor introduced its latest offering in the Network Storage Server (NSS) series NSS-S12 in 2008. Built on IPStor virtualization platform, the FalconStor NSS is a software solution that provisions virtual disks to hosts via Fibre Channel (FC), iSCSI, InfiniBand,...

HP made headlines in October 2008 with its acquisition of iSCSI evangelist LeftHand Networks. With established products such as the EVA and the MSA, this move by HP makes end users the real beneficiaries. HP’s strengthened and flexible entry-level and mid-range storage offerings make it a contender in any storage purchase decision.

Flexible product offerings from NetApp support multiple Storage Area Network (SAN) and Network Attached Storage (NAS) protocols and multiple server operating systems, reducing the worry of being locked into the wrong technology. NetApp continues to maintain its innovative offerings by adding support for enterprise-class flash drives at the end of 2008.

Sun Microsystems has been in the storage arena for over a decade and has expanded through acquisitions during this period. One of the major acquisitions was StorageTek in 2005. Sun offers a wide range of storage solutions that fall within the small to mid-sized enterprise price range and are worthy of the consideration of SAN buyers.

Intransa was a pioneer in designing a modular, easy-to-scale IP SAN solution that met the needs of all sizes of enterprises. With a strong product line-up, a global reach, and continued innovative developments, Intransa is a vendor loaded with potential. However, it faces a steep uphill climb as it struggles against startups for market share.

StoneFly presents a good example of the risks of buying from a small startup. StoneFly had an innovative iSCSI Ethernet solution, but it was struggling for profitability and was acquired by Dynamic Network Factory (DNF). Going forward, the biggest challenge for StoneFly will be to maintain and grow its customer base at a time of increasing competition from iSCSI competitors such as EqualLogic...

Thin provisioning pioneer 3PAR has long embraced the idea of utility infrastructure and offers innovative and scalable storage systems competing with EMC and IBM in high end mid-sized and large enterprises. Providing Fibre Channel and iSCSI connectivity, 3PAR is taking steadier aim at the needs of mid-sized enterprises. However, 3PAR’s overall gaze is still fixed on large enterprises, and...

Xiotech has been offering innovative storage solutions for more than a decade. The Magnitude 3D series has been very successful in meeting the needs of mid-sized enterprises. In 2008, Xiotech launched Emprise based on the new Intelligent Storage Elements (ISE) technology. Xiotech's core drivers have been affordability, ease of implementation, and manageability.

Compellent offers a powerful set of standard features with its Storage Center 4.0 product. Software is what makes this solution stand out. For the larger mid-sized as well as large enterprises in the market for a SAN, Info-Tech advises consideration of this vendor due to its excellent product scalability, flexibility, and feature set.

Hitachi Data Systems (HDS) has come a long way in offering storage solutions that fit the needs of small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs). Controller-based storage virtualization is one of the company’s strong suits. HDS should be considered along with the likes of EMC, HP, and IBM in the upper mid-range of the SME space.

IBM System Storage (formerly TotalStorage) is one of the largest storage players in the market. IBM offers mid-sized to large enterprises competitive solutions and has a variety of Fibre Channel, iSCSI/NAS storage solutions for the small to mid-sized enterprise market. Consider IBM for its global service, support, and expertise in dealing with complex environments.

Dell continues to be one of the top five external disk-based storage vendors. To strengthen its offerings, Dell acquired clustered iSCSI storage vendor EqualLogic in early 2008. In late 2008, Dell renewed and expanded its partnership with EMC to include the CX and NX series. These developments have ensured that Dell remains a contender in any storage discussion for small to mid-sized enterprises.

Many enterprises are investigating e-mail archiving solutions. Before speaking to vendors, use this note to help identify business drivers and build an implementation strategy. Then approach vendors that offer product features tailored to meet the goals of the enterprise.

Significant numbers of mid-sized enterprises are implementing Storage Area Network (SAN) solutions. SANs provide the best options for maximizing utilization, reliability, availability, and serviceability of enterprise storage. Use this fully editable SAN RFP template to select the best SAN solution for your needs.

HP, EMC, and Dell have significantly upgraded their entry-level Storage Area Network (SAN) offerings. Driven by the combined impact of iSCSI and processor virtualization, small to mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) are a booming field for no compromise SANs. Decision makers exploring SAN acquisition will find considerable value in these more robust low-end products.

VMware is one of the most widely deployed virtualization solutions currently available. Efficient backup and recovery solutions for virtual machines are constantly evolving to provide the same functionality for virtual machines as is available for physical machines; in addition, innovations such as data deduplication and granular recovery are making their way into VMware backup. Examine how the...

Small to mid-sized enterprises are the fastest growing market for networked storage. However, there remains considerable confusion around storage area network technology in the mid-range space with considerable overlap in both markets and products. This note aids solution selection by mapping out both product types and selection scenarios.

When acquiring and deploying a storage area network, the type and quality of the services provided by the vendor or reseller will be critical. Make sure that these services are spelled out as part of the offering and that the party providing them is fully understood.

A records retention schedule is a crucial input to document management and Information Lifecycle Management (ILM) initiatives. Developing a schedule requires contributions from various stakeholders and a dedicated project plan.

VMware’s High Availability (HA) feature provides almost instant virtual machine failover from one physical machine to another. However, failing over an entire site from one location to another has not been automatic. VMware’s Site Recovery Manager not only enables this capability, it also provides a means for testing automated site recovery in Disaster Recovery Planning (DRP).

The retention schedule template provides a first step for enterprises in the early stages of records management or Information Lifecycle Management (ILM) projects.

With Storage VMotion, it is now possible to non-disruptively move storage volumes used by VMware virtual machines from one storage device to another. VMware users should take a careful and planned approach to using this technology to non-disruptively optimize storage in their virtual infrastructures.

This tool is designed to help organizations determine top tactics for cost reduction within the server and storage service area. After the questions have been completed, the tool will generate guidance on which cost-saving actions to take, the relative amount of savings from each action, the time frame to realize these savings, as well as potential challenges and ways to mitigate these challenges.