Network/Storage Virtualization

 
In Network Virtualization many of the client/server based services are put onto the same network. With Network Virtualization as many parts of a network are made “Virtual”as possible. This means that many services are automated and others are made to be controlled remotely. Cisco is the big fish in this department with 3Com coming in second place when it comes to size. Cisco uses switches and routers to perform services like security, storage, VoIP, mobility, and application delivery. All of these services are very important to large businesses and small businesses as well. Network Virtualization minimizes the work that must be done by people. This in turn also reduces the number of people that service companies like Cisco needs to hire for this particular position. Network Virtualization is an all around money saver and it is also more efficient.

When it comes to Storage Virtualization the easiest way to understand it would be if there were 7 cranes at a construction site and the cranes represented storage devices. Storage virtualization would be the equivalent to having one main control center that could operate all 7 cranes simultaneously. This control center would be able to perform the tasks of backup, archiving, and recovery more easily and faster than if they used different programs or methods of doing each. EMC offers Network-based storage virtualization and that features Dynamic volume mobility, Centralized volume management, processing power, Streamlined operation, and Heterogeneous point-in-time copies(clones). As a whole the benefits of EMC Invista are that they move volumes across heterogenous storage, without disruption, allocate and reallocate storage resources from one interface, they allow you to use EMC Invista to perform I/O redirection and other virtualization tasks at wire speed, they simplify volume presentation and management and storage allocation in your heterogenous SANs and they reduce the cost and complexity of creating point-in-time copies across different storage arrays.(http://www.emc.com/products/detail/software/invista.htm)