Storage virtualization is the pooling of physical storage from multiple network storage devices into what appears to be a single storage device that is managed from a central console.
Storage virtualization helps the storage administrator perform the tasks of backup, archiving, and recovery more easily -- and in less time -- by disguising the actual complexity of a storage area network (SAN). Administrators can implement virtualization with software applications or by using hardware and software hybrid appliances.
Storage hypervisors allow storage administrators to replace underlying physical storage without having to make changes to the virtual storage environment. The software, which manages storage I/O for the virtual environment, can run on a dedicated storage appliance, in a virtual machine or in a server virtualization hypervisor. Some storage hypervisors also come with additional capabilities for deduplication or data protection.
The term storage hypervisor was first used by vendors that offer a wide array of storage virtualization technology. Although the tasks of the storage hypervisor may change depending upon the vendor's product, the goal of the hypervisor remains the same: to improve performance and make more efficient use of storage resources in a virtual environment.
|
