Storage migrations made simple.
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Introduction
What drives data migration? In a recent Softek survey, technology refresh was
cited as the major reason for moving data. Technology refresh is defined as
replacing an array with a new one and most commonly occurs when:
• The lease on a piece of storage equipment ends
• Data is being moved from old to new storage
• The storage system is being upgraded
• The organization has decided to standardize on a particular technology.
Typically, most data centers lease their storage hardware under three-year agree-
ments. Once the agreement ends, the hardware needs to be replaced and the data
stored on it moved to new equipment. Data migration must be completed before
the lease expires to avoid additional monthly lease costs. In cases in which storage
hardware is purchased rather than leased, older arrays that are fully depreciated
can be expensive to maintain. Once again, purchase and implementation of new
equipment requires migrating data from the older arrays.
IT organizations justify purchase or lease of new equipment by the fact that
it is less expensive to maintain, performs better and supports advanced fea-
tures. New arrays can support larger capacities to accommodate the growth
of applications; have faster processing chips to deliver better performance; or
have new features such as snapshot copies. Finally, newer arrays are justified
to minimize the risk of hardware malfunction, as older arrays are perceived
as being less reliable.
Highlights
IT organizations justify new equip-
ment because it can accommodate
growth, process more quickly to
deliver better performance and
minimize the risk of hardware
malfunction.
