Decision Tree: Storage (and Storage Networking) for Virtual EnvironmentsPresenter You know your current storage system is struggling to support your VMs, but what's the fix – 15K HDD arrays, hybrid SSD-HDD, all flash arrays, flash cache appliances, caching software? We'll describe when and where each of these approaches works best for cost-effective performance. We'll also look at how arrays specifically designed for virtual environments differ from traditional arrays. Other issues addressed in this session include hypervisor vs. array management (when hypervisors and arrays conflict); and what you should consider when evaluating how well a storage system integrates with hypervisors. |
What is Big Data and Why You Should Care (Architecting Storage for Big Data Environments)Presenters There's no shortage of talk about big data these days, and while it's mostly about data analytics, the underlying storage infrastructure is critical to the success of any app that's expected to process voluminous data in a timely manner. In this session, we'll define big data in storage terms, describe its particular demands on storage systems and detail how to architect storage for big data apps. [Should include a discussion of Hadoop and what it means to storage design: Hadoop dominates most discussions of data analytics these days, but its specific architecture can pose a problem for traditional storage architectures. Some vendors are adapting their technologies to better fit a Hadoop framework while Hadoop continues to evolve more toward shared storage architectures. Attendees will learn:
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Solid-State Storage is Everywhere - But Where Does it Work BestPresenter In this session, we look at the many options for deploying solid-state storage – server-based, server-based but shared, in a hybrid array, all-flash arrays, caching appliances, etc. We'll describe where it's most beneficial for the particular types of apps you're running; how to evaluate solid-state storage products (specs, controller tech, etc.). Attendees will:
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Internal Cloud Toolkit (How you can build a cloud storage service in your data center)Presenter Cloud storage services offer economy, flexibility and low capex expenditures. Some of those benefits--among others can be realized by building an internal cloud storage service. We'll look at how internal cloud storage differs from traditional shared storage systems, how it may be a beneficial alternative for your company and what you need to build and manage one. Attendees will learn:
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The State of NAS, or How to Cope with File Storage GrowthPresenter File data is growing at an unprecedented rate--far outstripping block storage growth. Yet, most NAS systems currently in use are limited in the amount of data they can store. The reaction to data growth has typically been to add more NAS systems--and more management and administration headaches. NAS vendors are responding to the problem of file storage sprawl and offering alternatives to isolated silos of NAS systems with new products that can scale capacity and performance and adapt to changing requirements. |
Solid-State Technology - What's New?Presenter Solid-state technology has had the greatest impact on storage systems since the hard disk arrived. Despite its relatively high cost, solid-state has been adopted quickly. And the technology is evolving at an even faster pace. In this session, we'll survey the current state of the art, describe and put into context the most recent developments like TLC, high-capacity SSD, NVMe, etc. This session will also discuss how solid-state is affecting the storage management software market, with emerging products like data cache managers and apps that allow sharing of server-based SSD. We'll tell you what's available now, what's coming soon and what's on the drawing board. Attendees will:
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Demo Lab: Issues and Opportunities in Managing the Copy Data ExplosionPresenter The growth of copy data has become a source of significant spend and inefficiency in the enterprise. Revenue-generating and business-agility initiatives are invariably delayed or prevented entirely due to resources being redirected to treating the symptoms of copy data sprawl. This presentation will share industry analysis on the secular trend of copy data - including how to quantify the scale of the problem in your enterprise, and provide guidance on addressing the root cause to unlock value, reduce costs, and accelerate the business. |
Executive Keynote Address – Stop Backing Up, But Restore Instantly: How "Non-Backup" Data Protection Methods Are the FuturePresenter Backups – at least as the industry has known them for the last several decades – are now the least efficient way to ensure that you can recovery in any kind of outage. The problem that most people think about when discussing traditional backups is that they take too long, creating what we call the “Backup Window” – a unit of time that IT departments keep trying to shrink as the volume of data keeps going up. The real problem with traditional backups, however, is that restores take even longer. Even at many TBs per hour, restoring a 20TB server is going to take a really long time. This is why IT departments of all sizes have started embracing non-traditional backup methods such as CDP and Near-CDP (snapshots & replication). You never “backup,” and yet you can restore instantly; how awesome is that? |
Morning Keynote Address - Shark Infested Waters: 10 Ways to Cut Your Storage Costs NowPresenter The situation in storage today is simple: take mostly unmanaged data, stand it up on mostly unmanaged storage arrays that are sold by a shrinking number of highly competitive and self-interested vendors. The result is extraordinarily expensive and dangerous storage infrastructure that promises to do violence to even the most generous IT budgets. Add in the ravenous appetites for capacity posed by server virtualization, desktop virtualization, big data, and the other great white sharks of IT marketecture, and pretty soon it will no longer be safe to jump into the storage pool. Jon Toigo continues his investigation of the storage infrastruggle by looking at the state of storage management tools and innovative storage architectures in an effort to identify ways to cut storage spending while streamlining the delivery of storage services and resources to application workload. By the end of this session, attendees will have
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Back to the Future: How Linear Tape File System (LTFS) and Other Innovations Are Returning Tape to a Production Storage Role in the Data CenterPresenter Arguably, the most important news in data storage in 2013 will have nothing to do with hard disks or Flash SSDs or cloud storage. With (1) a free file system technology from IBM, (2) partitioned media from nearly all tape vendors, and (3) Barium-Ferrite (BaFe) coating plus Type II Perpendicular Recording enabling a 32TB tape cartridge within 18 months, tape is on making a comeback that most analysts once deemed impossible.
As always, Jon Toigo separates the marketecture from the architecture in this important session. |
Integrating Cloud Backup ServicesPresenter Cloud backup services can complement internal backup operations, offering flexibility and economy. But for cloud backup to be beneficial, it should integrate with your current backup operations. There are a number of products and services--hardware appliances, software and cloud services that can provide easy on-ramps to cloud services without disrupting your ongoing backup processes. Attendees will learn:
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Alternatives to Traditional Storage ArchitecturesPresenter Hypervisor-based storage, virtual storage appliances, clustered servers, object storage and DIY projects are part of a growing breed of shared storage that eschews traditional architectures and economics. Enterprising storage managers can leverage these new techs to save big bucks and provide equivalent or better performance and operations than the traditional storage arrays. We'll describe all the alternatives and what you can expect in a world of software-defined storage. |
Remote & Mobile Backup in a Cloud WorldPresenter Remember when you had to locate employees somewhere near a major data center? The only way to give them enough bandwidth between their computer and the servers they were using was to put them in a building where you had a LAN. Now everyone works everywhere. Now they have powerful laptops and high-speed Internet connections at home, making it increasingly possible that a knowledge worker will be working from anywhere but a centralized data center. But since the Internet isn’t perfect, it’s also possible that you geographically locate some services, such as email, near where they live. How do you back up these remote servers, laptops and desktops? The good news is that solutions to this problem exists. |
File Share and Sync - Commercial, Roll Your Own or Avoid at All Costs?Presenter Share and sync services are elbowing their way into corporate data centers, riding on the coattails of the BYOD phenomena. We'll take a look at using commercially available services vs. creating an internal share 'n sync service; what you need to know about these systems, and how to manage them properly and stay out of trouble (security, protecting IP, compliance, etc.). Attendees will learn:
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Converged Systems - IT in a Box?Presenter One of the major trends in computing over the past couple of years has been the emergence of converged stacks that integrate computing, storage and/or networking into a single package. As vendors promise, ordering one converged package simplifies ordering and gets the gear up and running in your data center faster. Does that convenience come at a cost? Are you really getting a combination of best of breed products? In this session we’ll look at the range of converged solutions from reference designs and prepackaged systems to the latest in hyper-converged systems that actually combine storage and compute into a standard “brick” that scales out to serve many applications. |