As cloud computing continues to consolidate more and more multiple, disparate workloads into our compute, network and storage platforms there is now an ever growing need to control resource management at various different component layers within each stack.
Over the years the EMC has developed a portfolio of powerful, trusted features for the Symmetrix that enables cloud providers to dynamically manage resources both inside and outside the array whilst delivering a compelling total cost of ownership (TCO) that is required to compete in this utilities market.
- At the front end of the VMAX we have Auto Provisioning Groups and Host I/O Limits. Auto Provisioning Groups facilitate rapid change management for storage presentation and reclamation activities aka LUN masking through the use of groups of HBAs, targets and LUNs. Here providers have the ability to dynamically manage, scale and balance configurations for their subscribers. Host I/O Limits are a feature of Auto Provisioning Groups that provide the ability to place workload limits on particular services or subscribers.
- In the mid section of the array we have a powerful feature called Dynamic Cache Partitioning (DCP) that enables logical separation of cache.
- At the back end we have Fully Automated Storage Tiering for Virtual Pools (FAST VP) which is a truly awesome feature that leverages the difference in IO densities and capacities of flash and traditional spinning rust to provide a better response time at a lower cost by moving your most active data to the most appropriate performance tier and your inactive data to a bulk storage tier! Of all the features the Symmetrix has this is by far my favorite as it delivers so much operational efficiency coupled with numerous environmental and and cost benefits. For cloud or multi-tenant providers that have subscribers with varied workloads this is a must have.
- Federated Tiered Storage (FTS) enables providers to add an external storage tier from any supported EMC or 3rd party array that can avail of all the mature Symmetrix features like SRDF, TimeFinder etc.
