Storage systems are generally computing-storage devices that can be accessed over a computer network, rather than directly being connected to the computer (via a computer bus). This enables multiple systems to share the same storage space at once, and often minimizes overhead by centrally managing hard disks. NAS systems usually contain one or more hard disks, often arranged into logical, redundant storage containers or RAID arrays.

Storage systems were developed to address problems with direct attached storage, which included the effort required to administer and maintain "server farms", and the lack of scalability, reliability, availability, and performance. They can deliver significant ease of use, provide heterogeneous data sharing and enable organizations to automate and simplify their data management.

Strorage systems solutions contain an operating system that is independent from the server. This operating system typically is a software optimized for the purpose of providing data (File Server). Our company is a solution providers of Open-E (http://www.open-e.com) which offers such an operating systems.

Open-E storage systems are the way storage systems will be build in the future. Its design as an IDE flash memory modules gives a true plug and play solution in the storage systems world vanishing the system setup time and limiting its maintenance. There is no longer the need to look for security patches thus giving more time to the administrators to tend to more important tasks and no longer the need to limit the systems performance by adding antivirus software to safe guard the system. Also the IDE flash memory module limits the changes of operating system hard drive failures and the lowers the cost of adding these hard drives to the system thus increasing the space for true storage drives. Through its easy to use web administration interface Open-E modules can now be administrates by non expert personnel thus leaving the expert personnel to do the time consuming tasks with no need to worry for the Storage System appliances.

Having all these advantage does not limit its features or performance. Our implementations showed that building a storage system is now easy and can lower the total cost of ownership plus the company can see a return of their investment in a short period of time.

Storage systems applications

Storage systems allow multiple server access through a file-based protocol. This allows administrators to implement simple and low cost load-balancing and fault-tolerant systems.

For example:

• Corporate e-mail system with multiple, load-balanced webmail servers
• Load-balanced web servers access the same contents
• Storage for all users in a cost effective in terms of maintanances manner

Storage systems fulfill the same tasks that traditional servers, RAID systems or tape storage devices fulfill. The advantages of a storage system become especially evident when examining the product category data storage system/file server.

Easy installation, simple management
Only a few steps are required to make the storage system to work: Connect the power supply and the network cable, and enter the IP address. The system can be administered from any system within the network via a Web browser. As a result, very little training is required.

Reliability
Storage systems are often equipped with redundant high-availability functions (hard drives, hot-plug functions for power supply and ventilator). Because the traditional application server is not responsible for data maintenance, the availability of data does not hinge upon possible malfunctioning of applications or the operating system. File servers are dedicated solutions that are exclusively optimized for making data available on the network. As there are no additional applications on the storage system that require storage space, the performance remains at a high level. Storage systems support heterogeneous networks: Windows, Linux and Apple applications can access data simultaneously.

Storage systems is cost-effective
Typically there are no license and updating fees, meaning the system provides an unlimited number of user licenses that are free of charge. This pertains especially to NAS and iSCSI systems such as the product that Open-E provides, whose operating systems are not based on the Microsoft Storage Server 2003. Another key benefit is the cost-saving when installing and maintaining such systems.

A real-life example: Storage System  vs. upgrading a traditional server

To learn more have a look at the Open-E NAS page and the Open-E iSCSI page.