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VIRTUALIZE: SAN solutions that save time & space
Virtualization has quickly become mainstream. It’s being adopted across all industries. By consolidating multiple technology applications into a single physical server, organizations are spending less on hardware and management of that hardware. Plus, because the data is so portable, disaster recovery is more affordable and manageable for small & medium-sized businesses.
In this interview, Gia McNutt, CEO of SOS discusses storage area networking and server virtualization with 2 industry experts:
 Tom Riggins has worked in the technology industry for 25 years. He spent 17 years of that in field service for high end UNIX and Open systems including attached Fibre Channel SANs. He worked at EMC as Sr. Advisory Technical Consultant for 6½ years before moving to EqualLogic, which was then purchased by Dell, where Tom has been a Sr. Storage Specialist for the past 1½ years.
 Jim Bass has been in technology for 13 years, architecting large projects for enterprise environments, data center rollouts and large-scale virtualization solutions. His experience spans the telecommunications, financial and energy sectors. Jim has worked for PageNet, SAIC and Calpine Corporation. For the past 2½ years, Jim has worked as Advanced Networking & Convergence Engineer at SOS.
GIA MCNUTT: How has the introduction of virtualization changed the landscape of storage area network solutions?
TOM RIGGINS: Each has an effect on the other: The introduction of storage virtualization really accelerated the adoption of SAN technology because centralized SAN storage is required to access certain virtualization features. On the flip side, the advent of iSCSI (Internet SCSI) SAN technology reduced the cost of storage and simplified SAN management, and therefore is increasing adoption of virtualization.
JIM BASS: I see the development of iSCSI technology as the primary launching point for storage virtualization. Once iSCSI matured, it increased the simplicity of SAN solutions from a management perspective, and as Tom mentioned, this allowed storage virtualization to really soar.
GM: So what are the differences between iSCSI and Fibre? Isn’t Fibre Channel faster?
TR: It’s really just a different transport media. It’s a common myth that the Firbe channel is faster. To a certain extent it’s true as far as bandwidth is concerned, but for most mid-market customers, iSCSI will provide more bandwidth than they can ever use and IOPS is typically far more important. (“IOPS” stands of Input & output operations per second. In other words “reads and writes from the disk”). IOPS is a function of quantity and speed of the disks, and thus equivalent between both Fibre channel and iSCSI storage systems. It should also be noted that not all iSCSI systems are created equal. Some perform exceedingly well while others not so much.
JB: Fibre Channel requires extensive training in order to learn how to manage the technology. iSCSI, is IP-based, a protocol most IT professionals are familiar with. Familiarity translates to less training needs -- most know how to speak the language.
GM: You mention administration and management costs. Not wanting to waste any resources, what should professionals focus on first, when considering a virtual storage solution?
JB: Do your homework. Understand your environment and identify your business objectives with virtualization. For example, some companies want to reduce administration to free up resources for other projects, while others are planning for disaster recovery. Ask yourself what business problem you’re trying to solve with virtualization? Then, outline the hardware requirements for each application involved in the solution. I found this checklist from Gartner helpful for more technical details: http://searchservervirtualization.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid94_gci1216447,00.html#. If this sounds too complex, contact a technology partner you trust for advice.
TR: I couldn’t agree more with Jim. Understanding the infrastructure environment is the most important first step towards virtualization. Build a plan involving practical uses of virtualization. Some applications are not good candidates for virtualization, but most will do just fine, if not better, virtualized. Focus on the total solution; the overall objective you want to achieve, before diving into the minute details.
GM: From your experience, what are some “gotchas” our readers should watch out for when planning to virtualize their storage needs?
JB:
1. DON’T virtualize everything at once. Instead, plan a phased roll-out approach.
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2. DO size your environment appropriately instead of building based only on peak usage metrics. But don’t undersize your metrics in an effort to reduce cost. You’ll pay more in the long run if you have to make large-scale replacements because the business grows beyond the solution.
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3. DON’T lock yourself into a hardware platform that doesn’t allow for expansion later on. Consider ‘scalability’ as a key factor in the solution you choose.
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| 4. DO consider the specific applications’ dependency on other devices outside the WAN and support requirements after installation. |
TR:
1. Virtualization uses what would otherwise be wasted capacity of a server, so producing ROI is just a matter of time. But the most value comes from adaptability so be sure it’s part of the equation when evaluating your options.
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2. I’d also urge people to beware of the bait and switch. Some vendors will sell extra frills, just because. Be sure to ask why features are relevant to your company’s environment. On the flip side, watch out for being undersold with a stripped down solution just to meet your budget. Scalability is where you’ll realize the highest value in server virtualization. By doing your own planning, you can be your company’s best advocate. Combat both these pitfalls by partnering with an experienced vendor you trust.
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| 3. Get the solution provider to demo the product. Put your hands on it; become comfortable with the technology. |
GM: When should a company should consider server virtualization?
JB: If you have aged servers in-house and are planning replacements, going virtual now can save you in the long run. Virtualization is where storage is moving, so get onboard now or later -- either way, you’re getting on. Also, if you’re looking to save money and cut expenses, virtualization reduces cooling requirements and power consumption as well as freeing up space in the server room for on-premises boxes.
TR: Now is an ideal time to consider virtualization because there are deals to be had! The economic environment presents tremendous opportunity for discounts, and of course there is the Economic Stimulus opportunity through end of year 2008 (see related article).
Lower cost of equipment, management, and Disaster Recovery for the SMB
 Virtualizing hardware and consolidating servers not only lowers equipment costs but also reduces costs associated with managing equipment and electrical consumption for server power and cooling. SAN technologies are more affordable and manageable than ever before, making disaster recovery solutions more affordable for the SMB market. Contact our consulting team for more information and a complimentary assessment.
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Since its inception in 1992, SOS has specialized in providing technology solutions and exceptional customer service to small- and medium-sized businesses. SOS’ 40+ executives, engineers, sales consultants and project managers are focused on developing processes, solutions and support vehicles that help 300 clients choose and use communications technology to delight their customers, cut costs, attract/retain clients and increase financial performance. To get in touch please call 916.632.8800 x1711 or visit us at www.team-sos.com
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Copyright © 2008 SOS. All rights reserved.
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