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What to Look for in a Software-Defined Storage Solution

Software-defined storage (SDS) allows users to detach or extract storage data resources from underlying hardware platforms. It provides considerable efficiency, flexibility, and scalability by making storage volumes programmable. This enables storage resources to be structurally bound to a more comprehensive Software-Defined Data Center (SDDC) architecture. SDDC architectures are virtualized data centers delivered as a service to separate storage software from storage hardware.

SDS is an intelligent virtualization software layer with a service management interface; it includes a virtualized data path, standard interfaces, automation, and transparency. SDS manages and consolidates network-attached storage (NAS) or storage-area network (SAN) devices inside a data center, providing enterprise-level functionality without depending on proprietary hardware. SDS virtualizes NAS and SAN hardware in the same way that hypervisors virtualize server hardware for virtual machines (VMs).

The Benefits of Software-Defined Storage

SDS is revolutionizing the ways that organizations deal with data storage. In synchrony with interoperability, integration, and virtualization, SDS systems help provide more flexible and dynamic storage processes.

Many data storage experts point out flexibility as being the primary advantage of SDS. It helps organizations handle various workload types and connects workloads to storage more efficiently. SDS systems increase provisioning speeds, enhance responsiveness, and improve conventional processes used to designate resources within a system.

Scalability is another benefit offered by SDS systems. Some vendors market their SDS solutions as providing real-time scalability—solutions capable of responding to peak demands. Such products employ high-performance central processing units (CPUs) or non-volatile dual in-line memory modules (NVDIMM). Further, most SDS systems don’t require labor-intensive administration and monitoring.

Software-defined memory and persistent memory technologies use three primary types of NVDIMM.

  • NVDIMM-N: Has the same form factor as a standard 288-Pin DDR4 DIMM, resides in a standard CPU memory slot, placing data close to the processor, capable of operating at 2666MT/s DDR4 data rates, and provides 16GB of nonvolatile memory.
  • NVDIMM-F (JEDEC PDF): Dual in-line memory module (DIMM) with flash storage
  • NVDIMM-P: Provides a bandwidth that is twice that of Double Data Rate 4 Synchronous Dynamic Random-Access Memory (DDR4 SDRAM), enables high-performance and improved power management in applications, supports block addressing and traditional DRAM-like byte addressing, combines the features of DRAM and flash, and keeps the delay within 10-7 seconds.

The most significant value associated with SDS is the bar set by the data storage industry. For example, a number of guidelines have been established by market research company Forrester Research. One of the guidelines covers interoperable integration of application programming interfaces (API); another guideline covers the quality of service features. For enterprise IT platforms, quality of service provides numerous benefits in and of itself.

Virtualization is another important benefit of SDS systems. Virtualization enables loosely coupled interchanges between hardware and controlling software. Most IT experts illustrate how SDS virtualization separates the control plane from the hardware plane. Virtualization benefits organizations by allowing them to effectively handle storage management with fewer resources.

Features and Capabilities that an SDS Solution Must Have

When choosing an SDS solution, it’s a good idea to have a checklist of necessary features and capabilities. To give you a head start, we’ve provided a list of must-have features and capabilities for any basic SDS solution.

Synchronous or Asynchronous Replication

Synchronous or asynchronous replication copies data onto two storage systems or two storage locations at once. Synchronous replication offers significantly lower Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and Recovery Point Objective (RPO). When RPOs must be at their lowest, synchronous replication provides a notable advantage for primary storage systems. Additionally, disaster recovery procedures are seamless and transparent. Lastly, version integrity is ensured since both data instances remain consistent and cannot be manipulated before both of them are completely written.

Geo-Clustering

Geo-clustering enables deployment of storage across independent locations, offering organizations regional security and solid disaster recovery. For example, an organization has branches in Los Angeles, Kansas City, and Boston. As the term suggests, geo-clustering guarantees that data is automatically written and accessible synchronously across all three locations. The benefits lie in how geo-clustering mitigates risk—if data is lost at any one location, it remains available at the other two. Once the issue has been rooted out and resolved, it can be restored. And even though geo-clustering primarily involves object-based storage systems, the same protections can be applied to file storage systems as well.

Multi-Protocol Capabilities

Multi-protocol storage solutions use a variety of protocols to collect, store, and retrieve data. These protocols include Internet Small Computer Systems Interface (iSCSI) and Fibre Channel (FC) for blocks of data, as well as Network File System (NFS) or Server Message Block (SMB) file systems. Multi-protocol capabilities allow you to generate and scale unified storage pools that support various data types and applications logically. It enables organizations to boost performance by integrating cost-effective spinning disk and high-performance caching. In this way, one isn’t forced to migrate to expensive all-flash arrays if their budget is tight.

As your organization’s storage needs grow, SDS allows you to employ storage volumes without fretting about whether or not those volumes will integrate smoothly with other systems.

RAID Inc. storage solutions are built using open-source software. This means a legion of developers, engineers, partners, and users are working cooperatively to resolve your issues. Our enterprise storage technology incorporates decades of open-source knowledge and expertise. The inherent openness, freedom, and affordability of open-source technology empower you to achieve more with less. Does SDS sound like a perfect solution for your organization? Contact one of our knowledgeable storage experts today to learn more.