Technology

Rethinking Cloud Storage with VSAN

With the popularity of big data analytics, data storage tools, and other modern technologies, the number of data volumes handled by businesses has grown significantly. However, handling terabytes of data isn’t that easy. As the number of data sources increases, not only do we need to store it in the right data source, but we also need to do it in the right form. 

In some cases, we also need to make sure data is encrypted before we can actually store it so that it’s not accessible for anyone who doesn’t need to see it. At the same time, as much as data is not a static but rather a dynamic thing, it needs to be accessible whenever we want. So you cannot think of data storage as a static concept. As a dynamic structure it needs to grow as time goes by. As you can see, there are many things to consider when deciding on cloud data storage.

Enter VSAN

VSAN (Virtual SAN or Virtual Storage Area Network) is a storage software appliance that aims to take the concept of VSS (virtual storage) to the next level. As this can best be understood from its name, VSAN uses VSS, and it stores the data in the same way as virtual machines do. But unlike VMs, VSAN gives us the option of selecting different data sources, different storage device types, and different storage formats. So how is VSAN different from a storage array?

An ordinary storage array stores data across several physical hard disks. This means that there can be only one set of disks, and you cannot access the data stored on those disks in a different location and using a different storage device. If one of your physical disks in your storage array dies, all the data that’s on that physical disk will go with it.

VSAN is different because it separates the data from the data sources, storage devices, and storage format. So, VSAN is a flexible and powerful tool that not only gives us options we could not have with a traditional storage array but also allows us to work with data in different ways depending on our requirements.

Where Is Data Stored?

But what exactly is a storage device? Is it a physical disk? What does it have to do with storage? Well, a storage device is a piece of hardware that you can use to store and retrieve data. It doesn’t have to be a physical disk, and it doesn’t even need to be a hard disk. In fact, VSAN supports multiple storage device types, including SSDs, SAN-based storage, and even network-based storage. With VSAN, we can store and access our data using different devices.

We don’t want to store all our data in one location and expect it to last forever. We want our data to be flexible, to be able to access it whenever we want to, and from anywhere in the world. The data also needs to be usable and accessible for as long as we need it to be. These were the things we were struggling with cloud storage. Datastores in the cloud have to deal with this flexibility and also with our needs in a practical way.

Benefits of Data Management

One of the things that’s most interesting about VSAN is that with it, you have complete control over your data. This is what gives VSAN its power. VSAN doesn’t depend on your choice of the service provider or data sources as it’s you who chooses what data to store. You decide how your data is to be structured and how you want to access it. All of this is under your control, and VSAN is like a blank canvas that can be used to do anything you want it to do.

You can choose to store your data in different data sources, different formats, and different data storage device types. This enables you to take complete control of your data as no one else can see or access it unless you allow them to. As VSAN gives you complete flexibility in storing your data, you can make the most of the available technology to get the maximum possible benefit. VSAN also presents replication and redundnacy features. If some of the disks fail on one server, an identical copy of data will be present on the other one.

With the use of tools like VSAN, you can also make use of existing infrastructure. You’re not restricted to using new hardware or new software and services as you can employ existing hardware and solutions to provide additional benefits. You’re also not bound by the limitations of traditional storage. The benefits of VSAN also extend to the data security front as you can encrypt your data at rest using different algorithms and encrypt your data as it passes between the data sources and storage devices.

The benefits of VSAN also extend to the physical world as your data can be accessed using storage access products, storage virtualization software, or even storage network software. Your data is always protected and available to use, whether it’s for work or for play.

Is It Worth a Try?

When you think about what VSAN is, think about it as a data appliance that aims to give you flexibility and options that cloud storage doesn’t. There is also the added software-centric disaster resiatnce benefit. This approach to data storage also allows you to get the most out of the technology. With VSAN, you can also make better use of existing infrastructure to secure and access your data.

So when we think about data storage today, we need to make sure that our data storage is not only flexible and dynamic but also secure and accessible. VSAN is a storage software appliance that offers you the options you need to meet these requirements, and as a result, you can get the best out of existing infrastructure.

Christopher Stern

Christopher Stern is a Washington-based reporter. Chris spent many years covering tech policy as a business reporter for renowned publications. He has extensive experience covering Congress, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Federal Trade Commissions. He is a graduate of Middlebury College. Email:[email protected]

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