HP AutoRAID 12H manual Hp storage white paper Array virtualization defined, Reasons you need more

hp storage white paper	array virtualization defined
This allows the array to dynamically allocate and	achieve a balanced workload and eliminates
de-allocate clusters of any RAID type without	“hot spots”			1
affecting the logical view as seen from the server.
In other words, clusters can be moved and new	• automatically	adds new disk
RAID 5 and RAID 1+0 stripes can be created or				drives		into
	existing RAID groups
extended dynamically without the host view being
	Benefit: capacity upgrades			require		no
changed and without system administrator	IT training, are faster, and		hot spots			are
intervention.
	virtually eliminated
Just as a file system on the host presents a virtualized	• dynamically,	and without	any		human
view of the storage to the application or user,
	intervention,	optimizes the	RAID		level to
the virtual array presents a virtualized view of
	the application workload
the storage to the file system. For example, just
	Benefit: performance tunes the array 24
as you can create and delete files in a file system,
	hours per day and eliminates downtime for
you can create and delete LUNs within the virtual
	reconfigurations
array. This degree of virtualization is what gives
the virtual array its unique ability to relieve the	• allows LUNs to be created in seconds
system administrator of many of his/her mundane
storage management responsibilities.	Benefit: reduces setup times
the reasons you need more	• allows immediate use of the array after
virtualization in the array	LUN configuration
	Benefit: speeds implementation time

•capacity requirements will always grow

• IT departments will always have a limited			• allows hundreds of LUNs to be created of
			virtually any size—from a single megabyte
budget and limited human	resources	for
			to over 2TB
managing storage
			Benefit: simplifies configurations, improves
• virtualization improves the	efficiency	of
			application performance, and greatly

storage administrators	decreases management complexity and
• virtualization reduces the training required
	potential for security errors
for people to manage storage

•data always grows, but human head count doesn’t—virtualization reduces the number of people required to manage storage

key features of hp’s patented virtual technology

•automatically stripes every LUN across all disks in a very large redundancy group Benefit: simplifies overall management; reduces the number of LUNs required to

•allows any combination of disk drive capacities and speeds within the array Benefit: simplifies disk drive inventory control and capacity management

•allows disk drives and controllers to be moved to any slot in the array Benefit: reduces the chance for human error

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