No matter how much storage capacity you squeeze into a disk array, eventually it will run out of room. You can turn to tiered storage tactics and data deletion policies to stay one step ahead in the storage game, but no matter what, you will periodically need additional storage. Here are eight best practices for disk array expansion or replacement.
Storage administrators who use tape-based won't slow up their backups and will have peace of mind knowing that the tape content is secure. However, LTO-4 tape drives have specific encryption issues.
Integrated encryption into backup software offers many advantages, but hurts the performance of the backup server. This is why software-based encryption often requires a server upgrade (or at least creative backup planning), not to mention diligent key management. We provide specifications for a cross-section of encryption-capable backup software.
This article examines the technology, highlights the anticipated deployment and considers the potentially rocky road ahead for this high-capacity optical storage scheme.
IDC reports a lull in high-end enterprise spending in its quarterly disk tracker, with new growth lower in the market; Seagate plans encrypted 1 TB disk drive for PCs.
In many cases, storage can be added to the network using network attached storage (NAS) devices -- dedicated disk-based storage devices that attach to the user local area network (LAN) through an ordinary network connection. NAS devices can be expanded with additional disks, and new NAS appliances can be added as needed to facilitate significant amounts of network storage. NAS devices must also be managed with software tools to ensure cost-effectiveness. This article highlights a series of purchase considerations that are common to many types of NAS products.
All backups produce copies of valuable data that protect an organization against loss, theft, failure and other unforeseen calamities. But traditional "backups" are typically relegated to slow tape or optical media where data is not intended for ready access. "Copies" are a bit different, usually duplicating data to nearby disk and allowing quick restoration when the original data is compromised. Today, data backup copies go far beyond simple disk-to-disk file transfers. There's growing specialization and diversity in data copies -- allowing storage administrators to select copy platforms that meet specific requirements for performance and retention.
NAS appliances are frequently touted for bringing convenience and simplicity to network storage. Appliances include their own dedicated disks for storage and RAID, and most NAS appliances can be upgraded with more or larger disks for additional storage space. However, NAS appliances do pose some disadvantages. Consequently, the choice of NAS appliance requires careful evaluation. Now that you've reviewed the essential issues involved in any NAS product, this guide focuses on specific considerations for dedicated NAS appliances. You'll also find a series of specifications to help make on-the-spot product comparisons between vendors.
NAS appliances are noted for their convenience, offering dedicated internal storage that is relatively straightforward to identify and manage. The biggest issue for NAS appliances is avoiding network bottlenecks and supporting expansion without having to proliferate additional appliances across the network. The product snapshots in this chapter highlight key specifications for a cross section of major NAS appliance products.
A NAS gateway offers file-based accesses to external storage on a disk array -- or a SAN, where users can take advantage of superior performance and reliability while maintaining a level of simplicity. Since storage is moved off of the NAS device, interoperability and connectivity are crucial issues, and virtualization is increasingly important for superior scaling and utilization of the storage resources. The product snapshots in this chapter highlight key specifications for a cross section of major NAS gateway products.
