How Software-Defined Storage Software Works
With software-defined storage, applications are dynamically provisioned with the precise mix of capacity, performance, and protection needed—no more, no less. SDS brings to storage the simplicity, efficiency, and cost-savings that server virtualization brought to compute. It allows you to eliminate inefficient, purpose-built hardware and use more agile, transparent, and automated systems instead. Plus, this storage solution works with both existing storage solutions and the cloud.
SDS software abstracts the underlying storage through a virtual data plane; this makes the VM (and the application) the fundamental unit of storage provisioning and management.
By creating a flexible separation between applications and available resources, the pervasive hypervisor can balance all IT resources—compute, memory, storage, and networking—needed by an application.
What VMware Software-Defined Storage Solutions Deliver
Per-Application Storage Services
Ensure complete control of which storage services, and therefore costs, are consumed by each application. Since SDS works at the VM level, storage services can be tailored to precise requirements and adjusted as needed on a per-application basis—without affecting neighboring applications.
Rapid Changes to Infrastructure
Precisely match application demand and supply at the exact time the resources are needed with software-defined storage’s dynamic and non-disruptive model. Just like compute virtualization, storage services become fluid and accessible on an as-needed basis.
Heterogenous Storage Support
For leveraging of existing storage solutions, such as SAN, NAS, or direct attached storage, on x86 industry-standard hardware, SDS delivers complete flexibility. Using commodity servers—the backbone of hyperconverged infrastructure—enables design of low-cost and scalable storage environments.
VMware Products for Software-Defined Storage
Site Recovery Manager
Enable application availability and mobility across sites in your private cloud with the top disaster recovery software. SRM provides policy-based management, non-disruptive testing, and automation.
Virtual Volumes (vVols)
For finer VM-level control, streamlined storage operations, and flexible consumption of resources, try Virtual Volumes—an integration and management framework for external storage.
Spotlight
ESG Solution Showcase
Discover how Dell Technologies is implementing tailored and efficient infrastructure with SDS.
Understanding the DNA of Software-Defined Storage
Learn more about software-defined storage and how it continues to evolve.
The adoption of vSAN allows us to be much more flexible and to address quicker our continuously evolving business needs.
- Davide Gandino, Head of Streaming Cloud & Computing Systems Engineering Sky Italia
We have completely virtualized the old architecture, [and] we now manage all functions from one portal....Jobs that used to take weeks have been reduced to less than an hour.
- Vegard JØrgensen, Senior Advisor, Helse Nord IKT, Department of Services