C A S E S T U D Y
Weizmann
Institute of
Science
Improving Datacenter Efficiency
by Combining the Power of
Virtualized Servers and Storage
Challenge
Reduce the cost and time needed to effectively manage
heterogeneous SAN-based storage resources across a
virtualized server environment
Solution
An affordable Integrated Business Solution featuring
QLogic SANbox 8200 Storage Services Platform and
StoreAge software
Results:
Quick and simple deployment, providing the Weizmann
Institute with centralized management of its heterogeneous
storage devices, while maintaining interoperability with
existing SAN infrastructure.
Background
A growing number of companies of all sizes are using virtualization technology as
a means to increase infrastructure flexibility and utilization. These companies have
moved beyond the hype of virtualization and harnessed the technology into tangible
results. The resulting benefits seem to be quite compelling as companies who
have become comfortable with the notion of virtualization, are quickly expanding
the use of virtualization technologies within their organizations.
The practical usefulness of virtualization technology extends well beyond large
Fortune 500 enterprises. The American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of
Science (ACWIS) is a prime example of a smaller organization reaping the rewards
of combining server and storage virtualization within a single data environment.
Virtualization has broad market appeal because the technology can be applied across
nearly any size and type of server or storage device. For example, larger RAID arrays
can be virtualized as easily as modular “Just a Bunch of Disks” (JBOD)
Challenge
Prior to looking at storage virtualization technology, ACWIS had already implemented
VMware to reduce the number of servers needed. With VMware, a single physical
server is partitioned into multiple virtual servers that run independently – even with
different operating systems. Fewer physical servers are needed, meaning overall
resource utilization is significantly enhanced and management is simplified
Pleased with the results attained from server virtualization technology, ACWIS next
focused upon it’s storage environment. ACWIS was seeking to more effectively and
efficiently manage storage resources across their Storage Area Network (SAN).
They were having difficulty achieving the level of control and flexibility desired in
allocating and provisioning storage to various server environments.
The American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science is enjoying
the dividends of leading the way with virtualization
