All data has a lifecycle or supply chain attached to it, and storage systems need to respond differently to data as it moves through each link in this chain. The problem is that most data centers treat all data the same, regardless of its current state, and the lack of a data supply chain strategy is responsible for creating the three biggest storage challenges facing the data center. CIOs consistently list providing predictable performance to applications, limiting the number of storage elements that need to be managed and reducing overall storage complexity as their top storage challenges. These challenges can all be overcome and done so cost effectively, but the nature of data and where that data is in the supply chain is critical to success.
Understanding The Data Storage Supply Chain
There is a lifecycle or supply chain to almost any data storage task that the data center faces. When created, data first needs a storage system that can respond to write requests quickly, and store that data, which is the next step in the supply chain. Then data needs to be accessed. This requires that the storage system provide a variety of access methods including block-based fibre channel, and iSCSI, as well as file access via CIFS and NFS. It also means that the data needs to be delivered to the requesting application or user in an appropriate period of time, hence the performance challenge. But access now also means access from anywhere, so the supply chain strategy needs to provide file sync and share functionality. Next is data protection, both on the storage system via RAID and Snapshots, as well as off the storage system via replication. Finally, as data ages it does not need to be treated the same as production data and should be stored in a less expensive manner, also known as archived.
The SANS Technology Data Storage Supply Chain
SANS Technology creates and integrates data storage solutions that help customers simplify the management of their data storage and build a data storage supply chain strategy. SANS has a product portfolio designed to match the unique requirements of each link of the chain. More importantly, they can engage with an organization where they have the greatest supply chain need and then, gradually, upgrade the other links in the supply chain. The SANS portfolio includes a Unified Storage Platform, an Enterprise File Sync and Share solution, a Hybrid Cloud Backup solution and a Data Replication Services portfolio. All these solutions are supported with a robust professional services team that can provide both implementation and support.
Syneto Storage Arrays
At the heart of the SANS portfolio are the Syneto Storage Arrays. These are hyper-converged storage appliances that leverage both flash and hard disk drives to deliver performance and capacity scaling. The Syneto scale-out architecture provides both SAN and NAS access and can host VMs or be the infrastructure for an existing VMware/Hyper-V environment. The solution provides all the expected storage features including replication, plus inline deduplication and compression for a 50% savings in capacity utilization.
FileDrawer File Sync and Share
The SANS FSS solution, FileDrawer, can be delivered as an on-premise appliance, a virtual machine or as part of the Syneto hyper-converged architecture. The private nature of FileDrawer should appeal to organizations that are skittish about putting their data in the public cloud. The solution also provides for end-point backup, outlook integration, Active Directory support and mobile device management. It also allows for connectivity to the public cloud (if the organization would rather that then a totally on-premises solution) via Amazon S3 support.
QFlexBackup Appliance
Rounding out the SANS portfolio is their Hybrid Cloud backup solution, which again can be deployed as a physical appliance, a virtual appliance or as part of their hyper-converged architecture. The solution can protect most major operating systems and hypervisors, and can deliver instant recovery as well as disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS).
StorageSwiss Take
The challenge that most hyper-converged architectures face is that an organization has to rip and replace existing technology in order to begin to see its benefits. Also, most hyper-converged solutions do little to help with data supply chain management. A key differentiator for SANS is that they can engage an organization at any point in their data storage supply chain to solve the most pressing problem without replacing existing architecture investments. But, over time, their customers can move to a next generation hyper-converged platform, reducing infrastructure cost by up to 50%. Engaging customers in a way that is compatible with their priorities is a winning strategy and one that SANS seems to be executing.
George Crump is the Chief Marketing Officer at VergeIO, the leader in Ultraconverged Infrastructure. Prior to VergeIO he was Chief Product Strategist at StorONE. Before assuming roles with innovative technology vendors, George spent almost 14 years as the founder and lead analyst at Storage Switzerland. In his spare time, he continues to write blogs on Storage Switzerland to educate IT professionals on all aspects of data center storage. He is the primary contributor to Storage Switzerland and is a heavily sought-after public speaker. With over 30 years of experience designing storage solutions for data centers across the US, he has seen the birth of such technologies as RAID, NAS, SAN, Virtualization, Cloud, and Enterprise Flash. Before founding Storage Switzerland, he was CTO at one of the nation's largest storage integrators, where he was in charge of technology testing, integration, and product selection.
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