With server virtualization ubiquity as a foregone conclusion, the next logical areas to investigate are those which hinder its progress. Storage, at least storage as it has been done for decades, is a significant obstacle that is slowing or stalling the successful and optimal advance of IT. And yet we possess the tools to capably address the issue—with the virtualization of storage being a crucial element.

In essence, the virtualization of storage will enable IT organizations to “get storage out of the way” by replacing systems based on proprietary hardware and firmware with a fundamental flexibility that puts the emphasis back on applications, responsiveness, availability, and business value rather than on managing the Ponzi-scheme-like, ever-escalating complexity of traditional storage approaches. This paper looks generically at the logic and justification for the virtualization of storage, but will also specifically highlight the capabilities of
DataCore in this space.