As enterprises generate more and more data, the need for scalable storage solutions that can handle increasing volumes becomes imperative. Scale Out Network Attached Storage (NAS) Storage has emerged as a popular solution for businesses that require high-capacity storage while minimizing their infrastructure costs. However, there are various options available in the market, which can make selecting the right Scale Out NAS Storage a daunting task. In this blog, we will explain the different Scale Out NAS types and how to choose the right solution for your business.
Traditional Scale Out NAS
This type of Scale Out NAS storage usually offers high capacity, but is also significantly more expensive than other options. Traditional Scale Out NAS storage is ideal for businesses that require a high level of performance and availability. Such solutions come with features such as redundant hardware components and RAID protection for data safeguarding. An example of a traditional Scale Out NAS system is the Dell EMC Isilon.
Software-Defined Scale Out NAS
Unlike traditional Scale Out NAS storage, which was built as a hardware appliance, software-defined solution is a software-only that runs on commodity servers or data centers. These solutions offer flexibility and scalability by allowing a business to add more capacity as necessary. GlusterFS and Ceph are examples of popular software-defined Scale Out NAS solutions.
Hyper Converged Infrastructure
This type of Scale Out NAS involves combining storage, compute, and network into a single pre-integrated appliance for increased scalability, simplicity, and performance. Hyperconverged Infrastructure is ideal for businesses that have numerous virtualized applications or hardware-intensive workloads. The Nutanix HCI is a popular choice for this type of Scale Out NAS storage.
Cloud-Based Scale Out NAS
For businesses that require remote access to their data and a storage solution that has minimal maintenance overhead, cloud-based Scale Out Network Storage Solutions can be a good option. Such systems operate on cloud-hosted machines running storage software such as AWS S3 or Microsoft Azure Storage. Cloud-based Scale Out NAS solutions provide access to near-limitless storage capacity without the need for costly hardware investment.
Hybrid Scale Out NAS
As the name suggests, hybrid Scale Out NAS combines both traditional and software-defined Scale Out NAS solutions to give the user the best of both worlds. This type of solution can offer the high-capacity and availability of traditional NAS solutions, along with the scalability and cost benefits of software-defined storage. StarWind Storage Appliance is an example of a Hybrid Scale Out NAS. With StarWind, you can deploy VMs, hardware infrastructure, or both.
Conclusion
In conclusion, when choosing the appropriate Scale Out NAS storage for your business, you should weigh the advantages of each option, keeping in mind issues like performance, scalability, ease of use, and cost. A traditional Scale Out NAS solution such as Dell EMC is best suited for businesses that require high performance and availability, while software-defined Scale Out NAS storage options such as GlusterFS and Ceph are ideal for businesses seeking more flexibility and scalability. Hyperconverged solutions are perfect for businesses with many virtualized applications or hardware-intensive workloads, while cloud-based Scale Out NAS solutions are ideal for those in remote locations.
Finally, Hybrid Scale Out NAS solutions can be a compromise that tackles the challenges of balancing the benefits of traditional and software-defined Scale Out NAS. A variety of solutions are available, so be sure to evaluate your business's needs and budget carefully, before choosing a Scale Out NAS solution. To grab more information, Contact us.