Storage virtualization abstracts storage space in physical hardware to software-defined storage that is accessible to any device that is used by the end-user. It allows multiple storage devices to appear as a single volume and helps streamline data management without the need to plan long-term storage requirements and then pay for capacity upfront.
Virtualization can be accomplished through two ways: host-based and network based. Host-based virtualization (typically utilized in HCI systems and cloud storage) employs software to direct traffic. Essentially, the host, or a hyperconverged system consisting of multiple hosts, provides virtual drives to guest machines in any configuration, whether they are virtual machines within an enterprise or PCs that access servers for file storage or servers that use data via the cloud. The host makes use of software which maps the logical addresses of each block click this site of disk data into an offset within a virtual drive.
Network-based virtualization uses an alternative approach, shifting the complexity of a storage controller onto an additional layer over virtualization hardware. It is common for this to require additional components like a network switch handle the extra I/O load however it is a great way to reduce costs and boost performance.
The layer over the virtualization hardware provides the ability to perform backup and recovery functions without being impacted by the virtualization. It helps IT professionals to resolve issues remotely, which can increase the resolution time. In addition, it helps in scalability by removing dependencies between the location of files accessed at the file level as well as where they are physically stored on physical disks. This could be used to optimize storage, consolidate servers and perform non-disruptive file migrations.