Storage Virtualisation

Maximising your storage capabilities

Storage virtualisation divides your physical storage hardware into virtual units that span multiple physical storage media. These virtual units can be distributed as needed, leading not only to more balanced workloads and better performance, but also to significantly less maintenance and operational overhead within your infrastructure. The entire storage pool is managed by smart software, which centrally controls each virtual unit. Key pure-software players include Veritas, DataCore and StarWind, whose products are available in our Bechtle online shop.

The benefits of storage virtualisation

The advantages of storage virtualisation are manifold. For one, centrally controlling resources allows you to balance workloads more efficiently, and applications are able to access resources more effectively, obtaining the exact capacity they need. In addition, you won’t have the usual issues associated with mixed hard drive configurations in a storage area network (SAN). You’ll also save money by eliminating the separate backup systems and cache previously required for each physical storage unit. Last but not least, virtualised storage enhances data compression, thereby leveraging the full potential of your storage capacity.

An extra boost of security

Solutions such as DataCore STAR HA mirror local server data on a central storage server, thereby adding a second layer of security through redundancy. If one local component fails, whether a single drive or an entire server, applications are still able to access data from the central location. As there’s no downtime, application end users won’t know anything happened at all, and your IT team can take their time replacing defective parts properly. Once replacement is complete, the central storage detects the repaired device and feeds it any new data. Our product managers will be happy to advise you on the individual solutions in our online shop.