section 1

hp storage white paper

 

accurately, the traditional array and the HP Virtual

Consider: It is always easier to manage a

Array would have similar performance.

smaller number of things than a larger number of

However, the HP Virtual Array would still have

things. At first, bits were grouped into bytes.

the performance advantage because of its ability

When there were too many bytes to1keep track

to efficiently load balance across all the disks in

of, they had to be grouped into blocks. When

the array both at the initial configuration and

there were too many blocks to manage, someone

after capacity growth. In both stable and changing

invented volumes and volume managers. What do

environments, the HP Virtual Array is the right

you think the next logical step is when there are too

choice. Now, if the environment is not totally stable,

many volumes?

then the HP virtual array is the hands-down winner.

Answer: HP’s Virtual Array.

When both arrays are initially configured, the

 

 

traditional array should be faster at least for

summary

a day or so, but after that the HP Virtual Array

 

 

will catch up and continue to operate at peak

HP’s Virtual Array with HP’s patented Virtual

performance for as long as the array is plugged

Technology is the industry’s most intelligent disk

in, while the traditional array will get slower

array. Because of its unique ability to greatly

over time. This is how it works. When the HP Virtual

simplify storage management, it significantly

Array is first turned on, it doesn’t know which

reduces overall IT management costs and practically

data needs to be in RAID 1+0 and which data

eliminates mistakes caused by human error. HP’s

needs to be in RAID 5. After a day or so of reading

the access patterns, it will figure out which RAID

Virtual Technology also has a significant positive

level is best suited for which data. Once that

impact on real-world performance by automatically

happens, the performance will be as good as in

eliminating “hot spots,” and by performance tuning

any manually configured array. And, don’t forget,

the array 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

if the environment should change after that, even

for more information

slightly, the HP Virtual Array will adjust while a

manually configured array can do nothing but

For additional information on HP Virtual Arrays

keep plugging along in a degraded mode.

 

and other HP storage products and solutions,

Question: Are you saying that this technology

please call your local HP sales representative or

is for everyone? I’m not looking for anything new.

visit our Web site at www.hp.com/go/storage.

Answer: If it’s new to you, then it is understandable

 

 

that HP’s virtual technology might seem unnecessary.

 

 

After all, you’ve succeeded without it up till now.

 

 

But sometimes improvements do come along that

 

 

really do hold out the promise of a widespread

 

 

advantage. The dilemma of our rapidly advancing

 

 

technological age is to know which new technologies

 

 

should be ignored and which are the ones that

 

 

need to be grasped.

 

 

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