IDC Viewpoint Research “Removing Storage-Related Barriers to Server and Desktop Virtualization?”

DataCore Software announced that a new IDC Viewpoint research paper titled Removing Storage-Related Barriers to Server and Desktop Virtualization is now available for free download (you need to register).
 
The IDC Viewpoint (Author: Carla Arend, European Storage Software and Services, IDC EMEA) discusses, “An alternative to costly investments in high-end storage systems. It proposes using storage virtualization software to create scalable, robust SANs using equipment already in place. This hardware-independent approach complements server and desktop virtualization without compromising availability, speed, or project schedules… Just as importantly, it can significantly lower capital and operational expenditure for physical and virtual environments alike, making such transitional initiatives viable.”
 
Extending Virtualization to the SAN
“In addition to server virtualization, industry analysts are now grasping the real benefits of storage virtualization,” states George Teixeira, president and CEO, DataCore Software. “Software-based storage virtualization is important because it helps IT organizations get more out of their existing hardware investments – and it does so by enabling IT organizations to turn existing storage arrays from multiple vendors into a shared pool of disk storage. Creating virtual storage pools out of existing storage investments, which easily marry with virtual servers, represents the real value that storage virtualization software delivers.”
 
The research report covers the following topics:

• What makes server, desktop, and storage virtualization attractive?
• What are the Challenges to Implementing Virtualization?
• Extending Virtualization to the SAN
• Key Considerations When Choosing a Storage Virtualization Software Solution

Key IDC recommendations included in the report:

• Choose storage virtualization software that is not tied to any one hardware vendor so that you will have the most latitude when selecting future devices.
• Ensure that the storage virtualization software you pick for virtual systems also addresses your physical servers and competing server virtualization platforms. Otherwise, you may end up fragmenting the IT environment that you are eager to consolidate.

Adds Teixeira, “It is nice to see that after all the rush to embrace server virtualization there is now an increasing interest in storage virtualization. Most storage hardware vendors require customers to buy new storage arrays that support storage virtualization. But in these difficult economic times, it’s hard to make an argument for capital expenditures that are so dear.”