Software-defined silo elimination
IBM is aiming to tackle data storage with a new model, says Jessica Meek
IBM is set to focus its storage business on a new model for enterprise data storage, Jamie Thomas, general manager of storage and software defined systems at IBM, told the IBM Enterprise conference in Las Vegas this week.
In her keynote address, she said the new model will build on the software-defined storage portfolio the firm announced last May and will be optimised for interoperability across hardware and software offerings.
She also said it will provide greater flexibility for receiving, consuming and exploring different options for data storage.
Thomas told delegates that organisations are faced with having to transform their business with new technologies so the traditional hardware storage model must evolve.
"The reality is that many of our clients are suffering from information overload, and datacentres are feeling the pressure," Thomas (pictured, right) said.
"To help ease this pressure, we are providing flexibility to enable clients to choose the environment that best fits their needs, whether that is an integrated hardware/software solution through IBM or enterprise-class software on top of existing infrastructure.
"Software-defined storage is disrupting the industry, and we're leading the market by applying our storage and software heritage to the data-management challenges of businesses today."
The question of keeping data in silos is one IBM is seeking to answer, according to its release detailing Thomas' keynote.
The Armonk, New Jersey-based firm pointed out that in traditional storage environments data is stored and analysed in silos, on disparate systems. IBM claims that with a software-defined storage strategy, it can combine such data-management systems, making it easier for organisations to retrieve information in near real-time.
The firm said its software-defined storage offerings will be available through three "flexible" delivery models:
• Storage as software: IBM Elastic Storage, SAN Volume Controller and Virtual Storage Center;
• Integrated software and hardware storage solutions: IBM Elastic Storage Server based on POWER8; and
• Storage via the cloud: IBM Elastic Storage on SoftLayer.