When we read about storage virtualization products today, we tend to read more about solutions from companies like IBM, EMC, NetApp, and HDS. However, there are other companies that also provide solid block-level storage virtualization products. Some are emerging companies, such as Incipient, and others are more established like Fujitsu. Fujitsu is a very well known company, but as expected it tends to get less press in data storage market than the big guys. But that doesn’t mean that the company doesn’t have a solid set of data storage products, including a sound storage virtualization solution. In fact, Fujitsu currently offers a very comprehensive set of virtualization solutions that cover server, storage and network I/O.
A complete virtualization infrastructure requires a multi-system solution that involves the virtualization capability combined with appropriate management software. Fujitsu employs its “TRIOLE” approach, which includes virtualization, automation, and integration. At the heart of the storage virtualization segment is the ETERNUS VS900 CPU. This switch technology is provided in conjunction with autonomic software that helps to maximize the benefits and cost savings of a virtualized environment. Although the virtualization software resides on the VS900 CPU, it is managed by software on the management server. The virtualization and management software communicate and share information, such as configuration, copy, and migration data. This two-prong approach of dividing virtualization functionality and configuration management over separate servers enables streamlined management, higher performance, and simplified troubleshooting.
Another key component to Fujitsu’s virtualization solution is its management software.. This software is designed to integrate the total system, i.e. servers, storage, and networks. Managing resources in a stovepipe environment, even when virtualized, does not provide storage managers and systems administrators with that totally encompassing high level view that is so critical with today’s complex infrastructures. Rather than relegating storage managers to manage only storage, sever managers to manage only servers, and network managers to manage only networks, Fujitsu provides total autonomous management of the entire infrastructure. As business systems become more intricate, this level of integration is critical. Moving forward, there will be a definite pattern of server, network, and storage management integration. Management integration is key to providing a seamless, virtualized environment
On the downside, Fujitsu’s ETERNUS VS900 supports only Fujitsu storage – it is not a multivendor storage solution at this time. However, if a customer is using or evaluating Fujitsu’s ETERNUS storage, the VS900 is a viable storage level virtualization alternative.
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