Storage
virtualization is the ability to consolidate multiple
physical storage devices, such as disks/arrays or
tapes/libraries of various interface protocols (such
as SCSI, iSCSI, Fibre Channel) into logical "storage
pools". From these storage pools, virtual storage
devices can be created and provisioned to application
servers and end users, making storage resource management
easier for the system operator, maximizing the utilization
of all physical storage space, improving the performance
of the storage network and allowing for rapid storage
growth and reconfiguration without unnecessary downtime,
a requirement that is vital to all customers.
IPStor’s
virtualization engine is flexible and efficient, using
a block-by-block virtualization methodology that can
create virtual drives both within and across physical
storage disks, without any reliance on specific disk
types or vendor models. Virtual drives can be grown
as needed, when needed, using a just-in-time capacity
provisioning scheme.
FalconStor does not rely on any underlying OS
features, as opposed to many other virtualization software
products that depend on the operating system to create
volumes.
