IBM makes storage easier, cheaper and greener

IBM has released a new version of its storage virtualisation software, System Storage SAN Volume Controller (SVC) 4.3, adding that it could improve utilisation rates, energy usage, and application availability and scalability.

"IBM is dedicated to helping its clients improve their information infrastructures through powerful virtualisation technology," said Barry Rudolph, vice president, Storage Stack Solutions at IBM. "This latest version from IBM further showcases our innovation and represents our commitment to clients to incorporate green, efficient technologies into our storage portfolio to help clients manage the data centre crisis of today."

Enhancements to the updated system include space efficient virtual disks and FlashCopy, each of which offer better use of system resources, virtual disk monitoring that stores two copies of the same disk on different systems, and much improved interoperability.

Announced alongside of this was IBM's System Storage Productivity Centre, which is a management console designed to support SVC, and helps firm to pinpoint and remove duplicated and unnecessary data, and reduce storage requirements.

The system will also identify seldom accessed files, meaning that firms can move them onto cheaper or more energy efficient data storage systems such as tape.