Planning Storage Networks?
So what is the most important factor you should consider when planning storage networks? Is it IOPS as Robin Harris claims in his computerworld blog? Or is it capacity?
How fast is fast?
Ask yourself this: “If I can pay for a Lamborghini that goes 0 to 60 in under 3.0 seconds, should I buy one?” Most of us see this amazing $150k car and realize that it does nothing for our real world application (e.g. driving to work and back), except for stimulating our senses and heightening our egos. Then we ask ourselves:
1. What am I going to use this car for?
2. How much can I afford to pay upfront (CAPEX)?
3. What are the expected recurring costs (OPEX) to keep this baby running?
Finally, we come to the conclusion that the average $30k-$40k cars are really a much better fit for us. For that price, we can get a nice SUV with a built-in DVD player, a navigation system, a great sound system and reasonable MPG efficiency. You could probably even add some additional features that you think are important like ABS, 4x4, sunroof, leather seating, etc.
The best part, if you follow this line of thought, is that you’ve just saved some serious change (over $100k, or 75% of your CAPEX, in this example) to use on your other, more critical applications (perhaps the dream vacation you always wanted to take? a new deck? your daughter’s college tuition? all of the above?), They can be more important and productive expenditures according to your OWN set of priorities. That’s why the majority of us are still driving the more sensible cars. Unless, of course, we have unlimited funds and absolutely no concern about budgets and other usages for it.
The same planning process should apply in the storage arena. One should determine the best solution for a particular storage networking application by considering all the factors together; IOPS, capacity, features, cost, etc. This approach ensures higher efficiencies and better utilization of resources WITHOUT jeopardizing application requirements.
On our website, we try to highlight the most common and important planning factors for our customers, and include datasheets and whitepapers wherever possible. But the real work is best done in consultation with an experienced systems engineer who specializes in storage applications, has planned, implemented and operated dozens of installations, and can help you define your own critical parameters while maintaining reasonable associated TCOs.