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One device to manage, grow and protect, no matter your needs
In one of the toughest economic environments in years, the problem of data explosion has become an incredible cost burden, especially in smaller environments. Your IT budget isn’t what it used to be, and now you’re likely experiencing rapid growth of a different kind: file-based data. As a result, many smaller environments find themselves adding file server after file server just to keep up.

The ideal situation, of course, is to have one network storage device that doesn’t care what kind of data you’re storing, whether files or block-based application data like databases. That way, you have one device to help you manage, protect and grow your business as your data grows.

Today, this kind of multipurpose, unified storage device does exist, and it comes in two flavors: one for environments that already have an array and one for those that have direct attach storage.

The file explosion
For smaller environments with extremely limited budgets and IT expertise, the trouble of file-based data growth is particularly acute. Word processing documents, spreadsheets, PDF files, presentations, photos and video files are the storage hogs these days. The increasing use of multimedia in everyday communication means the problem is only going to intensify.

In fact, independent analyst firm IDC estimates that "in 2008, 52.6 percent of the storage capacity added by organizations was dedicated to the storage of file-based data (both original copies and replicated copies)."1 By 2012, IDC projects, file-based data will consume more than 78 percent of newly shipped capacity.2

Some companies have invested in an array for block-based storage while maintaining and managing separate servers to handle all of their file-based storage. Some haven’t yet made the leap to an array and are continually adding servers to keep up. In either case, unified storage solutions simplify your storage environment and help you keep up with the data explosion.

From direct attach to multipurpose networked storage

If you are moving from direct attach storage to network storage, one system does it all: HP StorageWorks X1000 Network Storage System. This Microsoft® Windows®-based solution easily integrates with existing Windows environments and is easy to manage for a small staff already familiar with Windows.

The X1000 Network Storage System:

  • Handles any type of storage, from individual files to data from applications, such as Microsoft Exchange, SQL, SharePoint, VMware or Oracle databases.
  • Helps reduce storage volumes by using file-based deduplication, so you aren’t unnecessarily storing multiple copies of the same information.
  • Connects via Ethernet, so it doesn’t require an expensive upgrade to your existing transfer protocol.
  • Comes with automation and remote management software, so you don't have to worry about common management tasks and you can help from afar when your system requires it.
  • Costs about the same as a file server yet offers shareable storage that isn't locked to a single server or application.

From array to multipurpose networked storage
Some small environments have already invested in an array or SAN to help get block-based storage under control. But file-based storage is still being diverted to separate servers, and those servers are filling up fast.

An HP StorageWorks X3000 Network Storage System can act as an IP-based gateway to your storage area network or array. Adding file and iSCSI services to your already shared storage, the X3000 essentially finishes the consolidation project that you began when you installed your SAN or array.

In effect, an X3000 Gateway turns your existing storage resources into a unified solution, one that uses both SAN and Ethernet connections and that you can grow and protect as one. Just like an X1000, an X3000 integrates easily into your familiar Windows environment and includes file deduplication and remote access, as well.

Simpler storage for complex times
At some point, the economy will turn around. At no point will your files and data stop growing. In fact, the increasing use of rich multimedia files means that storage growth is likely to accelerate. That’s why it’s important to find ways to simplify everything related to that storage—where you put it and how you access, manage and protect it—as soon as possible.

After all, dealing with storage growth today can free you up to focus time and energy on what’s far more important, your business' growth.

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1 IDC, File Systems Define the Future for Managing Storage, doc #215463, December 2008.
2 Ibid.
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