We’ve been discussing some of the functionality and capabilities of state-of-the-art iSCSI RAID solutions. Leading solutions now provide SATA or SAS connectivity and are ideal for network NAS applications and iSCSI RAID or Fibre Channel (FC) SANs. Unified iSCSI RAID storage systems can even provide file-level and block-level data access concurrently. Moreover, leading solutions also support solid state drives (SSDs), making them ideal to meet today’s extraordinary demands for I/O performance like server virtualization and virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) deployments.

Yet iSCSI RAID arrays should also provide additional functionality like compression to reduce capital and operating costs. Compression by the target device, particularly when augmented by data duplication, can greatly conserve disk space and extend the lifetime of the array. Compression and deduping by iSCSI RAID systems also ensure that this processing does not tax the CPUs of their servers. Moreover, iSCSI RAID solutions should support today’s operating systems like VMware ESX Server, vSphere, Windows Server 2012, 2008 and 2003, XenServer, Oracle/Solaris, Linux, and Mac OS X.

Such support delivers greater flexibility by avoiding lock-in to any one operating system and ensures that solutions remain useful for years to come. Additionally, iSCSI RAID systems should not only provide redundancy for storing data, ensuring a disk failure never results in any data loss, but the devices themselves should feature redundancy.

This includes dual independent power inputs, turbo cooling fans, and dual embedded iSCSI RAID controllers. When such safeguards are built into an array’s mechanical and electronic components, you are guaranteed that a failure anywhere within the device will not compromise vital data or performance. iSCSI RAID solutions that deliver such features make for smart, high-value business investments into the future of your business.

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