An example would be vmware vcloud automation center vcac, which could use these open storage control apis to provide storage services to cloud consumers, such as application developers. Within the next two years, double digit growth is expected in the use of desktop, application, network, storage, and data virtualization. Its an easy thing to define, but the definition is so abstract that it covers a lot of product and technology areas. In any softwaredefined infrastructure component, be it storage, compute or networking, the point is to establish a way to abstract the component and programmatically control it. Storage hardware like any computer hardware has a refresh cycle of a few years, but one of the pain points for customers is migrating their existing data to the new hardware during an upgrade. After all, storage virtualization is a well defined term with a meaning that seems to be generally accepted. List of top software defined storage sds solutions 2020. Softwaredefined anything is about the ability to abstract the control plane from the underlying hardware and. Whats the difference between sds and storage virtualization. Its helpful to understand the basic concept of softwaredefined storage sds.
What are some of the differences between storage virtualization and software defined storage. So what is storage virtualization, and what are storage virtualization s benefits. Storage virtualization comparison matrix is a sidebyside comparison of similar products. Jul 15, 2014 orchestration tools that can take advantage of rest apis can be leveraged to provide a full sds program with all of the software defined storage benefits. Softwaredefined storage is sometimes confused with the term storage virtualization, but as an article from crn explains, while the latter term involves separating capacity from specific storage hardware resources and thereby pooling storage devices, sds involves separating the storage capabilities and services from the. With a clear focus on flexibility, softwaredefined storage sds delivers a robust storage infrastructure that runs independently from the organizations hardware. Software defined storage typically includes a form of storage virtualization to separate the storage hardware from the software that manages it. Sep 25, 2014 lets start with software defined storage architecture. But not all products labeled as softwaredefined come with all those. Related to software defined networks sdn and datacenters sddc, sds essentially decouples physical infrastructure as a constraint to storage. Storage virtualization also sometimes called softwaredefined storage or a. Storage virtualization typically refers to storage abstraction. By creating a flexible separation between applications and available resources, the hypervisor can balance all it. Similarly, thin provisioning, storage virtualization and storage tiering can further improve storage utilization in virtual server environments as well as reduce storagerelated costs significantly.
Softwaredefined storage benefits will evolve over time. Many vendors offer their own storage virtualization solutions. Software defined storage archives technology comparisons. Reporters, analysts, vendors and even seasoned it professionals talk about them in the same. Softwaredefined storage sds is about freeing storage from its infrastructure. Types of software defined storage products and major vendors software defined storage can be difficult to categorize due to the lack of a standard definition. For the purposes of this article, i will define storage virtualization as a technology that places a layer of abstraction between the virtual desktop or the underlying hypervisor and the physical storage. When you look under the covers of software defined storage, youll find a control plane and a data plane. Virtualization and the softwaredefined data center vmware. Software defined storage and storage virtualization. Software defined storage 14 softwaredefined storage solutions sds encompasses a range of application and policy defined storage provisioning, storage virtualization and storage management automation.
Storage virtualization and, increasingly, hyperconverged storage can also be considered types of softwaredefined storage because they decouple storage software from the hardware. Reporters, analysts, vendors and even seasoned it professionals talk about them in the same breath. While softwaredefined storage and storage virtualization have different functions, they work in concert. Mainline recognizes that storage virtualization is a key component of sds, but it alone does not support an evolved sds environment. If the control plane and data plane are basically bunched together meaning theres no clearcut separation between them it is not a software defined storage product. Oct 03, 2019 bring the benefits of software defined infrastructure to the entire data center data center infrastructure is composed of countless servers, network devices and storage resources. The process involves abstracting and covering the internal functions of a storage device from the host application, host servers or a general network in order to facilitate the application.
Softwaredefined storage is part of a larger industry trend that also includes softwaredefined networking sdn, softwaredefined infrastructure and softwaredefined data centers. Storage virtualisation vs software defined storage. At the moment, storage virtualization and software defined storage are marketingled storage buzzwordsbut do they represent technologies that have been around for years. For storage administrators and managers, the race is on to understand what softwaredefined storage has to offer and how it might benefit their. The pool can integrate unlike storage hardware from different networks, vendors, or data centers into one logical view and manage them from a single pane of glass. The software defined everything infrastructure includes not just softwaredefined networking, but also softwaredefined compute, storage, security, data center, perimeter, wanyou name it. Software defined storage is a storage architecture that uses a layer of software to provision, orchestrate and manage physical data storage capacity on industrystandard servers. The storage vertical is undergoing radical change and picking up some interesting buzzwords along the way. The software enabling a software defined storage environment may also provide policy management for features such as data deduplication, replication, thin provisioning, snapshots and backup. Software defined storage sds is about freeing storage from its infrastructure. Softwaredefined storage sds is an intelligent virtualization software layer that. The benefits of softwaredefined serverside storage. Flexibility and price are oftcited benefits of softwaredefined storage architecture. The it industry is an incubator for new technology and new buzzwords.
According to vendor dell emc, storage defined storage implies storage software isnt defined by the hardware it runs on software is decoupled from hardware and can run on any industry standard hardware that can be procured. Check out this weeks update to the virtualization comparison where weve reflected all changes introduced with windows server 2019, thanks to our community expert romain serre from techcoffee all kudos to him. Many industry professionals confuse storage virtualization with software defined storage. Right now, sds is the most talkedabout storage technology, and everyone is eager to. Because capacity is pooled from storage hardware across an environment. While virtualization is an enabler for software defined storage, it is just one component of sds. The real definitions behind the technologies their relationships to one another product offerings for both areas. In order for a product to be dubbed softwaredefined storage, forrester research requires apibased provisioning, storage virtualization and storage quality of service. When you look under the covers of softwaredefined storage, youll find a control plane and a data plane. Storage virtualization is a key building block for a complete sds implementation. These products reflect a broader industrywide shift towards the virtualization of softwarerelated functions such as storage, networking, and security.
When a vendor is discussing software defined storage, it already has a storage virtualization layer included as part of the product. Storage virtualization and, increasingly, hyperconverged storage can also be considered types of software defined storage because they decouple storage software from the hardware. As the concept of hyperconvergence combining compute, networking and storage continues to gain acceptance and adoption, chris evans and max kolomyeytsev will discuss what features to expect. These programs are also related to softwaredefined networking sdn and the softwaredefined data center sddc architecture. Softwaredefined storage abstracts the underlying storage through a virtual data plane, making the vm, and thus the application, the fundamental unit of. Can you compare softwaredefined storage architecture to.
While that definition may reasonably straight forward, many players in the data storage industry debate the specifics and details of what. Softwaredefined storage sds is one of the hottest topics in the it industry and, as a technology, provides some significant advantages over traditional storage system designs. The pros and cons of using storage virtualization for virtual. Storage virtualization is usually implemented via software applications and often used in san storage area network, a highspeed subnetwork of shared storage devices, and makes tasks such as archiving, backup, and recovery easier and faster. Software defined storage is an approach to data management in which data storage resources are abstracted from the underlying physical storage hardware and are therefore more flexible. Softwaredefined storage is not storage virtualization. It focuses on storage virtualization solutions, and looks at 8 of the products in this space. Softwaredefined, serverside storage for big virtualization the answer to the providers and large enterprises challenges, when creating a scalable environment that can support dozens of virtual machines per server, may be to combine the server, storage and network infrastructures into a single layer similar to what compuverde has done. If you follow this space, two buzzy words youve probably encountered by now are virtual storage and software defined storage. Both solutions softwaredefine the infrastructure and abstract storage from the underlying hardware. The difference between softwaredefined storage and hyperconverged infrastructure is that sds is the virtualization of storage by separating the control and management software from the hardware. Benefits of integration from a data protection perspective.
May 09, 2018 the difference between software defined storage and hyperconverged infrastructure is that sds is the virtualization of storage by separating the control and management software from the hardware. Introduction to the softwaredefined data center logical design and benefits of a softwaredefined data center softwaredefined storage storage virtualization virtual data plane policydriven control plane vsphere virtual volumes 3. Just as hypervisors virtualize server hardware for vms, sds virtualizes san and nas. Related to softwaredefined networks sdn and datacenters sddc, sds essentially decouples physical infrastructure as a constraint to storage management to.
Apr 15, 2015 what are some of the differences between storage virtualization and software defined storage. May 21, 2018 its easy to get softwaredefined storage sds confused with hyperconverged infrastructure hci. Most sds infrastructures also add the benefits of reduced cost and improved purchasing flexibility. Companies can create the ideal storage environment without getting caught up in the trappings of proprietary hardware. Storage virtualisation vs softwaredefined storage storagebuzz.
Sds products can be hyperconverged systems engineered and supported as a single product leveraging dell emc poweredge servers. By switching to the sds model, you will attain the following benefits. Storage virtualization has specific benefits for valueadded resellers vars and storage consultants. Some sources focus on storage virtualization alone, in their definition of what software defined storage means. Flexibility and price are oftcited benefits of software defined storage architecture. The benefits of storage virtualization searchitchannel. The pool can integrate unlike storage hardware from different networks, vendors, or data centers into one logical view and manage them. Software defined storage sds as a concept is revolutionizing the ways that businesses handle data storage. The interest around software defined networking sdn has given rise to the term software defined data center sddc, and vendors are also now talking about software defined storage sds. In conjunction with the principles of virtualization, integration and interoperability, software defined storage systems are helping to make the storage process more dynamic and flexible many experts describe the main benefit of software defined storage as related to flexibility. First, what storage virtualization is storage virtualization typically refers to storage abstraction. May 12, 2011 many vendors offer their own storage virtualization solutions.
These programs are also related to software defined networking sdn and the software defined data center sddc architecture. Storage virtualization is the amalgamation of multiple network storage devices into what appears to be a single storage unit. What are some of the benefits of softwaredefined storage. Softwaredefined storage sds is an intelligent virtualization software layer that manages and unifies every storagearea network san or networkattached storage nas device inside your data center, while providing enterpriselevel functionality with zero dependence on proprietary hardware. These initiatives contain a large dose of what has for a long time been called storage virtualisation but are billed as softwaredefined storage. Storage virtualization allows the capacity of many storage devices to be pooled so it looks like all the storage is sitting on one device. The 2020 state of virtualization technology marketing. In fact, sds systems operate fully independently from the hardware, allowing businesses to choose the equipment that makes the most sense for their needs. Bring the benefits of softwaredefined infrastructure to the entire data center data center infrastructure is composed of countless servers, network devices and storage resources.
Sds replaces static and inefficient hardware with dynamic, agile, and automated solutions. Software defined storage 14 software defined storage solutions sds encompasses a range of application and policy defined storage provisioning, storage virtualization and storage management automation. After a crash course in storage virtualization, i will talk about sds and how it might differ from storage virtualization. Software defined storage allows for data storage management and policycentric provisioning without regard for the related hardware. So what is storage virtualization, and what are storage virtualizations benefits. Software defined storage sds is a storage data center architecture that separates the management and provisioning of storage from the underlying physical hardware, similar to server and network virtualization. In other words, theres a software layer sitting between the server usually a vm, but not always, and this software layer provides the server with a different view of the underlying storage than what actually exists in the physical world. Software defined storage sds decouples storage software from the underlying storage devices.
Both sds and storage virtualization involve abstracting something from storage hardware, but the concepts arent the same. How to realize the benefits of softwaredefined infrastructure. Defining softwaredefined storage what benefits does it. These products reflect a broader industrywide shift towards the virtualization of software related functions such as storage, networking, and security. Storage virtualization and software defined storage youtube. When a vendor is discussing softwaredefined storage, it already has a storage virtualization layer included as part of the product. A deep dive into storage virtualization technology.
Storage virtualization also sometimes called software defined storage or a virtual san is the pooling of multiple physical storage arrays from sans and making them appear as a single virtual storage device. Resource flexibility is paired with programmability to enable storage that rapidly and automatically adapts to new demands. What softwaredefined storage isnt sds is not storage virtualization. A shift from storage arrays to software defined storage. Softwaredefined storage to transform your it infrastructure. While virtualization is an enabler for softwaredefined storage, it is just one component of sds. Introduction to the software defined data center logical design and benefits of a software defined data center software defined storage storage virtualization virtual data plane policydriven control plane vsphere virtual volumes 3.
Storage virtualization is the process of grouping the physical storage from multiple network storage devices so that it looks like a single storage device. The interest around software defined networking sdn has given rise to the term software defined data center sddc, and vendors are also now talking about softwaredefined storage sds. Its easy to get softwaredefined storage sds confused with hyperconverged infrastructure hci. How softwaredefined storage is transforming hybrid cloud. Softwaredefined storage sds enables users and organizations to uncouple or abstract storage resources from the underlying hardware platform for greater. Software defined storage and storage virtualization may sound the same. With more technologies available to abstract the storage layer, how do you compare softwaredefined storage vs. Lets start with softwaredefined storage architecture. Apr 18, 2017 storage virtualization is the process of grouping the physical storage from multiple network storage devices so that it looks like a single storage device. Jul, 2015 while software defined storage and storage virtualization have different functions, they work in concert.
Usually, this infrastructure would be configured and managed as individual devices often using varied and inconsistent management tools, which might only operate. While that definition may reasonably straight forward, many players in the data storage industry debate the specifics and details of what, exactly, is the true. Software defined storage sds is an intelligent virtualization software layer that manages and unifies every storage area network san or networkattached storage nas device inside your data center, while providing enterpriselevel functionality with zero dependence on proprietary hardware. Aug 01, 2018 some sources focus on storage virtualization alone, in their definition of what software defined storage means. A shift from storage arrays to softwaredefined storage. Jul 24, 20 softwaredefined, serverside storage for big virtualization the answer to the providers and large enterprises challenges, when creating a scalable environment that can support dozens of virtual machines per server, may be to combine the server, storage and network infrastructures into a single layer similar to what compuverde has done. Its flagship product is sansymphony, its software defined storage solution, which recently set a new world record for performance and priceperformance on the storage performance councils spc1 benchmark.
Types of softwaredefined storage products and major vendors softwaredefined storage can be difficult to categorize due to the lack of a standard definition. May 18, 2015 software defined storage sds is one of the hottest topics in the it industry and, as a technology, provides some significant advantages over traditional storage system designs. It does this by creating a virtualized software management layer that operates above the storage hardware. Vmwares softwaredefined storage sds strategy is to evolve storage architectures through the pervasive hypervisor, bringing to storage the simplicity, efficiency, and costsavings that server virtualization brought to compute. Sep 17, 2015 at the moment, storage virtualization and software defined storage are marketingled storage buzzwordsbut do they represent technologies that have been around for years. Founded in 1998, datacore software was one of the earliest proponents of storage virtualization and software defined storage.
Softwaredefined storage is a marketing term for computer data storage software for policybased provisioning and management of data storage independent of the underlying hardware. Softwaredefined storage or hyperconverged infrastructure. In other words, theres a software layer sitting between the server usually a vm, but. If the control plane and data plane are basically bunched together meaning theres no clearcut separation between them it is not a softwaredefined storage product. Sds requires virtualization to separate your management of data from the management of hardware.
Softwaredefined storage is a storage architecture that uses a layer of software to provision, orchestrate and manage physical data storage capacity on industrystandard servers. The pros and cons of using storage virtualization for. Software defined storage should be able to be consumed in choice of flexibility as a downloadable software or as an. Softwaredefined storage includes such concepts as policydriven storage provisioning and the use of virtual. Many industry professionals confuse storage virtualization with softwaredefined storage. Storage virtualization here is the wikipedia definition. Software defined storage abstracts the underlying storage through a virtual data plane, making the vm, and thus the application, the fundamental unit of storage provisioning and management across heterogeneous storage systems. After all, storage virtualization is a welldefined term with a meaning that seems to be generally accepted. By networking resources virtually, storage resource management is possible from a single user interface without regard for the hardware underlying it. Storage virtualization also sometimes called softwaredefined storage or a virtual san is the pooling of multiple physical storage arrays from sans and making them appear as a single virtual storage device. Software defined storage includes such concepts as policydriven storage provisioning and the use of virtual volumes, in which the physical hardware is. Software defined storage is part of a larger industry trend that also includes software defined networking sdn, software defined infrastructure and software defined data centers. Softwaredefined storage sds is a storage data center architecture that separates the management and provisioning of storage from the underlying physical hardware, similar to server and network virtualization. Storage virtualization and software defined storage.