Most of us are already aware that non-virtualised servers typically run at only 5 to 15% of their capacity. What’s less well known is that storage systems rarely operate at more than 40% capacity. EMC offers three lines of attack to improve the operational efficiency of datacenter storage systems, based on virtualisation, data de-duplication, and ILM (Information Lifecycle Management).
- Virtualisation, by consolidating resources, contributes to optimising the storage infrastructure
- Data de-deplication eliminates multiple copies of identical files which make unnecessary demands on disk space, backup and restore operation and bandwidth. Source-based (or server based) and target-based (or storage-based) data de-duplication technologies are available and can reduce initial backup loads to just 35% of that previously required, while subsequent backups – depending on the applications – can be reduced to 0.3% – 3% of previous volumes!
- Implementing Information Lifecycle Management policies allows for more efficient usage of storage resources. According to EMC, an ILM policy allows document storage to be adapted to the life cycle of the information contained in the files so that, for example, recent, frequently accessed information is stored on higher performance, fast access storage while older, less frequently accessed data is moved to lower performance storage media requiring less power and cooling.
