Storage virtualization abstracts available space in physical hardware into software-defined storage that is accessible to any device that is an end-user. It allows multiple storage devices appear as one single volume, and improves the efficiency of managing data.
Virtualization can be achieved in two ways: host based or network based. Host-based virtualization (typically utilized in HCI systems and cloud storage) makes use of software to manage traffic. The host or hyper-converged system, made up of multiple hosts, provide virtual drives to guest computers with any configuration, regardless of whether they are virtual machines in corporate environments, PCs that connect to servers for file storage, and servers that store data in cloud. The host employs software which maps the logical addresses of every block of disk data into an offset within a physical drive.
Network-based virtualization takes a different method, shifting the complexity of a storage controller on a layer above virtualization hardware. This typically requires additional components, like an Ethernet switch to manage the increased I/O load. However, it can reduce costs while improving performance.
The layer over virtualization hardware allows backup and recovery to be performed without the virtualization having an impact on it. Furthermore, it allows you to https://myvirtualstorage.blog/best-types-of-acquisition-strategy-to-use-based-on-the-business-needs troubleshoot issues remotely – either by internal IT teams or managed service providers – which can speed up resolution time. Furthermore, it can aid with scalability by eliminating dependencies between the location of files accessed at the level of file and where they are physically stored on physical disks. This will help in optimizing storage utilization, server consolidation, and performing non-disruptive data migrations.
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