Tiered storage: does all data have to fly first class? - Storage Networking

Computer Technology Review,  Feb, 2004  by Tad Lebeck

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In the implementation phase, start with automating management of the administrative workflow for a single end-to-end process. This is a simple non-disruptive approach to begin to enforce compliant practice, without jumping headlong into lights-out automation. Over time, incrementally integrate automated system operations into the workflow to offload human tasks to the system. With each iteration, it's important to audit performance against the baseline. What requests were serviced, what were response times, where were problems and exceptions encountered? This discipline will enable you to target areas and priorities for process improvement, as well as evolve policies to capitalize on improved control over the service delivery process.

So, does all data have to fly first class? Certainly not. Storage price performance options and process automation software have evolved to a point where there is a compelling rationale to pursue tiered storage strategies. Look to start with operational practices tiering classes of storage device or data protection. Enterprise-wide ILM implementations are not yet a practical reality but the best way to achieve short-term results and get from here to there is to phase in process and policy incrementally--and continue to evolve.

Tad Lebeck is CTO of Invio Software (Los Altos, CA)

www.inviosoftware.com

COPYRIGHT 2004 West World Productions, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group