storage virtualisation and vmware

Adam Granquist

Storage Virtualisation and VMware

What is Storage Virtualisation??• Storage Virtualisation is the pooling of physical

storage from multiple network storage devices into what appears to be a single device.

• Example Technologies• EMC VPLEX• IBM SAN Volume Controller• NetApp Metro Cluster

Why use Storage Virtualisation?• vTeleport - Ever wanted to failover to a completely different location

and data centre with zero downtime?

• Do you have Storage Arrays from different vendors and want to mirror them?

• Active / Active Data centres;

• Do you have multiple Arrays from different vendors but want to manage them all from a single pane of glass?

• Can enhance the performance of some Arrays.

Key Benefits for Transend• Seem-less data centre failover and failback;• Enhanced Disaster Avoidance and Recovery, potentially

automated;• Enables us to meet availability requirements for SCADA

Systems;• Enhanced Performance;• Enables the Active / Active data centre concept

improving ROI;• Reduced Administration costs; and• Improved redundancy at the storage layer.

Current Architecture

What is EMC VPlex• EMC VPLEX is a storage federation solution that can be

stretched across synchronous distances (VPLEX Metro), launched in 2010

• Provides simultaneous access to storage devices at different sites by creating a Distributed Virtual Volume that is available on each side of a Cluster.

• Can be used in front of most brands of storage arrays.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zf-5NNDFKI

VPlex – Example Architecture 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKKhrI7A7Og

Pros and Cons of Example 1Pros:• Enables Disaster Avoidance using VMotion over

distance.• Increased Performance• Enables Active / Active Data CentreCons:• No Automated Failover• Still require SRM to perform DR

VPLEX - Example Architecture 2

Pros and Cons of Example 2Pros:• Enables Disaster Avoidance using VMotion over

distance;• SRM is not required;• Enables Automated DR using VMware HA;• Increased Performance;• Enables Active / Active Data Centre;Cons:• Increased Reliance on Network Infrastructure• Potential Split Brain Scenario

Questions