One of the biggest challenges associated with managing storage today is the sheer number of platforms involved. From file servers and network attached storage (NAS) servers to emerging hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) platforms and object-based storage systems accessible via the cloud, managing storage has never been more complex.
Data Dynamics this week moved to reduce that complexity with the release of version 8.0 of StorageX, file management software that can be employed across multiple platforms. The latest version automatically converts files into an object-based format that is compatible with the S3 interface that Amazon Web Services (AWS) employs in its public cloud service.
Chuong Le, senior vice president for field operations at Data Dynamics, says storage management has become a burden because each storage vendor tries to lock organizations into a specific type of platform. StorageX solves that issue by making it possible to move files between storage platforms as necessary, says Le.
“It provides full flexibility,” says Le.
In addition to support for AWS S3, the latest version of StorageX adds analytics tools that apply metadata to help IT organizations better understand storage allocation and usage. There are also pre-integrated workflows and a central console through which files can be managed across multiple platforms.
Given the volume of data that IT organizations now routinely manage, it’s never been more important to be able to move files between platforms. As primary storage systems fill up, there becomes a pressing need to move files that are not being regularly accessed to lower-cost storage platforms such as the AWS S3 cloud. The challenge facing IT organizations that have multiple local storage systems is finding a way to achieve that goal with the barest amount of friction possible.
