With out correct storage capacity management, it's impossible to keep pace with the enormous data growth of today's EMC storage environments. Here are 7 issues to think about when formulating a capacity planning technique or deciding their present and future wants when buying a storage method.
1. The Tools of the Trade
If you are attempting to increase your business' storage capacity planning approach, there are many tools which are most likely at your convenience already. Equipped with spreadsheet software for example Microsoft Excel or Open Office Calc, you'll be able to leverage PerfMon, a Windows performance monitoring tool, to track the total disk space in addition to the quantity of disk being utilized.
For larger enterprises, this really is far from a total answer, and should you require a lot more granularity, you can find a host of SRM and capacity planning calculators and tools obtainable.
The key here is determine how complex your data wants, and make certain you might have the suitable tools to analyze your environment's growth, regardless of whether a spreadsheet or costly overall performance monitoring tool.
two. Determining Your Present Storage Requirements
When sizing your needs for a EMC storage system acquire or planning the quantity of storage you may require in the future, plan for the total amount of storage you may need to have, not just what your technique reports as available (i.e. calculate RAW storage needs rather than USABLE storage). By way of example, if you are running RAID 10, you'll want twice as a lot disk as information to account for RAID 10 mirroring. For RAID 5, simply divide the amount of usable storage by roughly 0.75 (or multiply by 1.33) if utilizing a three disk RAID array.
A lot more, for every GB of disk storage added, make certain you have effectively sized the necessary disk and storage essential to provide backups and disaster recovery storage capacity. With that info, it is possible to start creating educated decisions about the sort and number of disks.
three. Preparing For the Future
Next, it's critical to evaluate the data storage growth rate on your EMC storage array. Depending on the complexity of your EMC storage environment or end-user behavior, this may be completed on a monthly basis or an annualized rate.
There are some techniques to calculate these numbers-consulting your log files or making use of software onboard your EMC storage array, you can use spreadsheets and planning tools to extrapolate future storage needs. Capacity planning software or other specialized management, whilst somewhat pricey, will permit you to figure out growth rates much more swiftly.
Also, if utilizing EMC's Snapview to produce nearby point-in-time copies and clones for faster recovery make certain you include enough space for snaps or other types of disk based backups.
four. Account For Storage Tiers
Several enterprises keep storage on distinct efficiency tiers, so you'll need to project requirements and growth for every single storage class separately. It is typical to discover that lower storage tiers may possibly experience faster growth rates dues to archiving practices or regulations requiring longer retention periods. It may possibly be feasible to save money by ensuring that much more high-priced, quicker efficiency disk (for example Fibre Channel or SAS) grow only in the necessary rate while quickly expanding slower disk (including SATA disk drives).
5. Account For Major Infrastructure Adjustments
Therefore far, the calculations discussed only account for natural growth in existing EMC storage systems and applications. Check with management or other infrastructure team leads to uncover out about any planned acquisitions or projects that may cause sudden increases in storage demand. New applications and implementation can trigger sudden spikes in storage requirements, together with adding extra employees or acquisitions of new organization units.
6. Determine Methods To Save On EMC Storage
Seeking techniques to lessen the expense of storage growth is a superb strategy to expand the capabilities of your storage environment by either adding a lot more storage for exactly the same cost or redirecting savings to other essential projects. You can find several techniques you can reduce the price of your EMC storage array.
Evaluate Proper Performance Wants - There may be places within your EMC storage environment exactly where applications are sitting on disk not correctly suited for your data. Switching from RAID 10 to RAID five may possibly help reduce the growth of storage, as well as moving low-performance applications and archive data to slower, bigger SATA disks.
Repurpose Legacy Equipment - Old systems that are EOL or not currently supported by EMC can nonetheless be repurposed for data archiving, testing, and development environments. Utilizing third-party maintenance to extend the life of your system might save you a substantial portion of your spending budget without sacrificing reliability and availability.
Purchase Utilised or De-Installed Disk Upgrades and Systems-Taking benefit of employed disk can substantially decrease the price of adding storage to accommodate growth inside your EMC storage array. A utilized EMC storage array can cost anywhere between 30-60% much less than a comparable program from the manufacturer, permitting you to purchase larger systems or more capacity that otherwise may possibly have been out of reach.
Consider Data Deletion-Meet with end-user teams to be able to make certain which you are not keeping unnecessary information on expensive storage systems. Working with end-users will enable you to set data retention policies suitable for the data in question.
7. Get Ahead of the Growth Curve
Acquiring just enough storage to get by can leave you desperately exposed when an unexpected event arises within the datacenter. Contemplate purchasing excess storage to ensure that last minute storage additions do not turn into fire-fighting workouts.
1. The Tools of the Trade
If you are attempting to increase your business' storage capacity planning approach, there are many tools which are most likely at your convenience already. Equipped with spreadsheet software for example Microsoft Excel or Open Office Calc, you'll be able to leverage PerfMon, a Windows performance monitoring tool, to track the total disk space in addition to the quantity of disk being utilized.
For larger enterprises, this really is far from a total answer, and should you require a lot more granularity, you can find a host of SRM and capacity planning calculators and tools obtainable.
The key here is determine how complex your data wants, and make certain you might have the suitable tools to analyze your environment's growth, regardless of whether a spreadsheet or costly overall performance monitoring tool.
two. Determining Your Present Storage Requirements
When sizing your needs for a EMC storage system acquire or planning the quantity of storage you may require in the future, plan for the total amount of storage you may need to have, not just what your technique reports as available (i.e. calculate RAW storage needs rather than USABLE storage). By way of example, if you are running RAID 10, you'll want twice as a lot disk as information to account for RAID 10 mirroring. For RAID 5, simply divide the amount of usable storage by roughly 0.75 (or multiply by 1.33) if utilizing a three disk RAID array.
A lot more, for every GB of disk storage added, make certain you have effectively sized the necessary disk and storage essential to provide backups and disaster recovery storage capacity. With that info, it is possible to start creating educated decisions about the sort and number of disks.
three. Preparing For the Future
Next, it's critical to evaluate the data storage growth rate on your EMC storage array. Depending on the complexity of your EMC storage environment or end-user behavior, this may be completed on a monthly basis or an annualized rate.
There are some techniques to calculate these numbers-consulting your log files or making use of software onboard your EMC storage array, you can use spreadsheets and planning tools to extrapolate future storage needs. Capacity planning software or other specialized management, whilst somewhat pricey, will permit you to figure out growth rates much more swiftly.
Also, if utilizing EMC's Snapview to produce nearby point-in-time copies and clones for faster recovery make certain you include enough space for snaps or other types of disk based backups.
four. Account For Storage Tiers
Several enterprises keep storage on distinct efficiency tiers, so you'll need to project requirements and growth for every single storage class separately. It is typical to discover that lower storage tiers may possibly experience faster growth rates dues to archiving practices or regulations requiring longer retention periods. It may possibly be feasible to save money by ensuring that much more high-priced, quicker efficiency disk (for example Fibre Channel or SAS) grow only in the necessary rate while quickly expanding slower disk (including SATA disk drives).
5. Account For Major Infrastructure Adjustments
Therefore far, the calculations discussed only account for natural growth in existing EMC storage systems and applications. Check with management or other infrastructure team leads to uncover out about any planned acquisitions or projects that may cause sudden increases in storage demand. New applications and implementation can trigger sudden spikes in storage requirements, together with adding extra employees or acquisitions of new organization units.
6. Determine Methods To Save On EMC Storage
Seeking techniques to lessen the expense of storage growth is a superb strategy to expand the capabilities of your storage environment by either adding a lot more storage for exactly the same cost or redirecting savings to other essential projects. You can find several techniques you can reduce the price of your EMC storage array.
Evaluate Proper Performance Wants - There may be places within your EMC storage environment exactly where applications are sitting on disk not correctly suited for your data. Switching from RAID 10 to RAID five may possibly help reduce the growth of storage, as well as moving low-performance applications and archive data to slower, bigger SATA disks.
Repurpose Legacy Equipment - Old systems that are EOL or not currently supported by EMC can nonetheless be repurposed for data archiving, testing, and development environments. Utilizing third-party maintenance to extend the life of your system might save you a substantial portion of your spending budget without sacrificing reliability and availability.
Purchase Utilised or De-Installed Disk Upgrades and Systems-Taking benefit of employed disk can substantially decrease the price of adding storage to accommodate growth inside your EMC storage array. A utilized EMC storage array can cost anywhere between 30-60% much less than a comparable program from the manufacturer, permitting you to purchase larger systems or more capacity that otherwise may possibly have been out of reach.
Consider Data Deletion-Meet with end-user teams to be able to make certain which you are not keeping unnecessary information on expensive storage systems. Working with end-users will enable you to set data retention policies suitable for the data in question.
7. Get Ahead of the Growth Curve
Acquiring just enough storage to get by can leave you desperately exposed when an unexpected event arises within the datacenter. Contemplate purchasing excess storage to ensure that last minute storage additions do not turn into fire-fighting workouts.
About the Author:
If you are in need for EMC Storage or IBM Storage, we are the top provider for all your technology storage needs. You will save hundreds on excellent new and refurbished hardware equipment.
No comments:
Post a Comment