the storage anarchist

0.033: elvis has left the building

Yesterday afternoon it became official: with the signing of the Product Ship Authorization (PSA), Enginuity release 5772+ ("plus") and the Symmetrix DMX-4 are now Generally Available.

Less than 24 hours later, shipments of both are already underway (along with the updated releases of Symmetrix Management Console, Solutions Enabler, the SMI-S provider and the mainframe Host Components, just for completeness).

Last month, I described the content and feature set of DMX-4 and the accompanying Enginuity 5772+ release (which also runs on existing DMX-3 platforms). There are lots of highlights, including the DMX-4's 4Gb back-end and its first (and still only) native support for SATA-II drives. And numerous software enhancements that deliver significantly improved response time, throughput and replication capabilities for both DMX-3 and DMX-4.

Since the announcement, customer interest in DMX-4 and the new software update has been strong, while the competitive response has been noticeably weak . In fact, I think that almost all of the DMX-4's in backlog will be shipping with at least some 500GB SATA-II drives alongside the faster FC capacity, in stark contradiction to the assertions that customers (and certain vendors) don't want to put lower tier data into their Tier 1 platform.

And like I said - it's great when you're the only SATA game in town. And even better when it's a game customers want to play. I expect our sales teams will be leveraging this /GB advantage pretty heavily for the foreseeable future.

Hats off to the team of development, quality assurance, customer service, product management, marketing, professional services, training, manufacturing, finance and human resources for a job well done! It takes more than a village, and y'all done good.
 

but wait - there's more!

0.032: seek and ye shall find: another emcer is blogging

Len Devanna simply can't resist a stage. Didn't make it in broadcasting, washed out as a JavaScript Jockey, and now finds himself saddled with the onerous chore of corralling the blind genius of 35,000+ EMC Web 2.naughts into a cohesive (if not yet fully coordinated) eBusiness presence.

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

The self-proclaimed eBiz Junkie has started his own blog, and his inaugural topic is quite fitting: Web 3.0 and the emerging importance of community-driven search. Sort of a human twist on grid computing, where lots of people spend a little bit of time each to build a contextual and referential search utility. Clearly a topic worthy of more than a casual fly-by, and it clearly has Len's attention. I hope he explores more topics like this.

In fact, I'd like to think I was one of the first bloggers that Len alerted to his presence precisely because my new Google Custom Search Engine is sort of an infantile pre-cursor of the whole trusted advisors-driven search engine. Lots of people are already using it, and he wanted in. So Len's the latest addition to the EMC CSE (available at the top of my blog's sidebar).

Let's all give a Big Hand for Mister Len Devanna!

0.031: inside tiered storage - part 2 (options)

Part 2 of a planned 4-part series exploring the concepts and implementation of tiered storage. If you missed it, you should probably read part 1 (definitions) first.

Several weeks ago I was invited to sit-in on a "Peer Incite" conference call with the folks behind Wikibon.org. The topic had been advertised as a peer review of EMC's 7/07 announcements, but the topic leader (Peter Burris - or was it David Vellante?) chose instead to focus the discussion around the implications of EMC's announcement that the Symmetrix DMX-4 would be the first high-end storage array to offer native support for SATA-II disk drives, and specifically the 750GB devices. (You can read the collective results of that conference call here.)

One interesting aspect of this discussion was the clarity offered around the differing approaches for implementing tiered storage. I personally thought this one of the more valuable parts of the discussion, but it seemingly was not included in the posted summary. In fact, it was that omission that initiated the idea for this series in the first place (admittedly, I had initially thought I'd be able to cover the topic in a single post, but I couldn't manage to pull that off).

So in this chapter I'll explore the four different options for implementing tiered storage, as was discussed in that original call.

Of course, I'll add a little of my own color along the way.

And maybe even a surprise ending...

0.030: new site tool - snap shots from snap.com

I just installed another handy little tool on this site called Snap Shots that enhances links with visual previews of the destination site, interactive excerpts of Wikipedia articles, MySpace profiles, IMDb profiles and Amazon products, display inline videos, RSS, MP3s, photos, stock charts (like for EMC and VMware) and more.

Sometimes Snap Shots bring you the information you need, without your having to leave the site, while other times it lets you "look ahead," before deciding if you want to follow a link or not.

Should you decide this is not for you, just click the Options icon in the upper right corner of the Snap Shot and opt-out.

Oh - and like my embedded Google CSE, it is very likely that these snap shots don't work if you're viewing this post in an RSS reader. Sorry - you'll just have to drop by my actual blog to utilize these new tools - the storage anarchist.

0.029: a perspective on software architecture and engineering

I've been participating in some brainstorming/debates about the requirements and planning the implementation process for one of those "next big thing" type projects over the past several weeks (no, sorry, I can't tell you what it is ).

One of the clean-sheet discussions we've been having is about which comes first: hardware or software? Now, deep down, we all really know that the answer is that we have to design a system of complimentary parts. But it is somewhat funny (to me, at least) that the Software Gurus want to focus on the hardware first, while the Hardware Gurus want to know what the software intends to do before they tack down a strawman for the physical platform.

At least everyone is actively working together, which is always a plus.

From the HW perspectives, designing the hardware platform is reasonably straightforward - in fact, we already have our equivalent of the back-of-the-napkin design spec completed (in full-motion PowerPoint, no less). And from the SW perspective, well - you just gotta admire the cowboys who are confident that they can "break" (or "gentle") just about anything the HW dudes throw at them.

But we haven't quite converged on how the whole thing's supposed to work when we're done.

So when one of us challenged the team to start roughing out the Software Architecture, we all got a chuckle by the following emailed response from one of the lead SW engineers...

0.028: new site tool - search the blogs of emc employees

I've been experimenting with the Google Custom Search Engine, and I've come up with a CSE that searches across the corporate and personal blogs of several EMC employees. I've integrated it directly into my blog site (in the sidebar), or you can test-drive the non-integrated version here:

If you use Google Home Page, you can integrate this search using this button:

Currently, the search domain for this CSE includes posts and pages (but no links) from the following blogs:

Oracle Storage Guy (Jeff Browning)
the storage anarchist (Barry Burke)
Never Talk When You Can Nod (Andrew Chapman)
Andrew's Blog (Andrew Cohen)
Cornelia Davis' Weblog
Len's Blog (Len Devanna)
Info Muse (Brian Fitzgerald)
Dave Graham's Weblog
Chuck's Blog (Chuck Hollis)
A Journey in Social Media (Chuck Hollis)
dotConnector's Blog (Dr. Subramanian Kartik)
Mark's Blog (Mark Lewis)
Adventures in Corporate Education (Gina Minks)
No there there (Peter Quirk)
Polly Pearson's Blog
Craig's Musings (Craig Randall)
Dave Talks Shop (David Spencer)
Energy Matters (Dick Sullivan)
Information Playground (Steve Todd)
Storagezilla (Mark Twomey)
The Backup Blog (Scott Waterhouse) 
Virtual Geek (Chad Sakac)
 

Note that this search does NOT currently include the blogs of the following EMC subsidiaries and acquisitions. They each have their own well-established and topical social networking infrastructure. If you have interests in their products and markets, I encourage you to visit them directly.

Geniant
RSA: Speaking of Security
Planet VMware

If you are an EMC employee (or subsidiary) with your own blog and you'd like to be included (or removed), please drop me an email using the "email the anarchist" link in the sidebar. I'll update this page whenever I add or remove blogs to the search engine.

And I apologize in advance for the blogvertising - it's the price Google extracts for this custom search engine. Any revenues that I may collect from these adverts will be applied to the cost of running this blog site; excess will be donated to charity.

June'08 Update: EMC now list many employee blogs on the Community pages of EMC.com.

technorati tags: EMC blogs,EMC bloggers,EMC weblogs,EMC,EMC blog,EMC social media

________________________________________________________________________________

change log

2007-08-17: First post
2007-08-20: Added references to Geniant, RSA, and VMware social networking portals
2007-08-27: Added "Confessions of an eBiz Junkie (Len Devanna)"
2007-08-28: Len changed the name of his blog. One more, and then you're out, bud!
2007-09-05: Added "Compliance - Never Talk When You Can Nod (Andrew Chapman)"
2007-09-07: Added "Energy Matters (Dick Sullivan)"
2007-10-29: Added "dotConnector's Blog (Dr. Subramanian Kartik)"
2008-01-18: Removed Josh Maher's blog
2008-02-06: Added "Information Playground" (Steve Todd)
2008-03-11: Added "The Backup Blog" (Scott Waterhouse)
2008-03-26: Added "Info Muse" (Brian Fitzgerald)
2008-04-05: Added "Polly Pearson's Blog"
2008-04-05: Added "A Journey in Social Media (Chuck Hollis)"
2008-06-19: Added "Dave Talks Shop (David Spencer)"
2008-06-19: Added "Virtual Geek (Chad Sakac)"
2008-06-19: Added "No there there (Peter Quirk)"
2008-06-21 Added "Adventures in Corporate Education (Gina Minks)"

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

0.027: inside tiered storage - part 1 (definitions)

There has been a lot of talk of late related to tiered storage, mostly surrounding the applicability of using SATA devices in enterprise-class storage arrays. After posting a few comments and follow-ups on fellow blogger sites, I thought perhaps I might invest in making a more in-depth look at the whole topic from an enterprise IT perspective.

The way I see it, this whole notion of tiered storage is pretty broad, so I've outlined my approach to the topic into a couple of related posts that I plan to deliver over the coming days/weeks. Roughly, I think I'll tackle the discussion like this:

part 1: definitions

In the first installment (this one), we'll explore the definition of "tiered storage" - I say "we" because I'd like to collect your feedback on the subject.
 

part 2: options

Next I'll explore the various approaches to implementing tiered storage, using different companies and their products as examples.
 

part 3: challenges

Then I'll discuss some of the challenges of implementing tiered storage, both related to each individual option and across the entire spectrum (I'll give a little preview: there isn't yet a good solution that solves everything for everyone).
 

part 4: predictions

Finally, I'll take a look at what I think will likely be coming down the pike to help improve the overall situation.

Now, I probably won't get through all this back-to-back, so expect me to intermix this series with other topics over the coming days or weeks.

One important caveat - this series is about Tiered Storage, and NOT Information Lifecycle Management (ILM). As SNIA has defined, ILM is about the entire operational ecostructure (people, process, practice, tools & technology) employed to effectively align the business value of information with the IT infrastructure throughout its' lifecycle. This series of posts will explore perhaps the most important of the infrastructure tools - tiered storage - that can be employed in support of ILM, and the various means this tool can be deployed.

So let's get started...

0.026: free speech, blogketing and mojo

Robin Harris has gotten around to reading some of my posts on blogketing (beware of blogketing and blogketing and revenue recognition) and my belief that it is the responsibility of corporate bloggers to comply with the same standards as for any other marketing collateral. Robin seems to have taken issue with my position, slinging the First Amendment back at me. In doing so, Robin has effectively twisted my position into one that bears little resemblance to what I said or meant.

And he has every right to do that, without question, and we all defend that right daily.

But the point I have tried to make is NOT that bloggers can't freely express their opinions in their blogs, whether they blog on a corporate-sponsor site or not. No, my point is that when you blog under the banner of your company's logo, your blog must then be held to a higher standard for factual representation of your company and its products (note the clear distinction between "opinion" and "product facts" here).

Apparently, most of you agree with me (so far, anyway).

I sat down this morning and wrote a response to Robin that was simply too long to post as a comment on his blog. So although I really don't intend for my own blog to erode into an ongoing debate on blog-etiquette, I did open this can of worms, so I guess I have no choice but to chew.

So my response to Robin becomes this morning's post...

0.025: heroes or hiro's?

News Flash! Mr. T has reportedly been seen walking the sidewalks of Wall St, under the watchful escort of Hitachi Data Systems’ PR agency.

Now why would Hitachi Data Systems be parading an aged, almost-forgotten actor-nee-comic book hero around the offices of prominent Wall St. financial analysts? I mean, it’s not like he’s any sort of expert on storage technology, or technology of any sort, for that matter. As I recall, Mr. T's character was the muscle of the A-Team, not the brains; he was they guy you sent in for a round of intimidation when logic, good looks or the uncontrolled psychotic couldn't do the trick.

So why has Hitachi hooked up with Mr. T: The "T" in I.T. again? Heck, being a Japanese company, you’d think Hitachi would spring for a hero that was a bit more contemporary.

Like maybe Hiro.

0.024: green envy and twisted truths

You usually can tell that you're on to something big when the competition starts trying to reshape the facts.

Today's case in point: EMC's recent DMX-4 launch and specifically the focus on the DMX-4's power efficiency advantage.

In the launch, EMC made three claims about the DMX's so-called "green" advantage over the competition:

1. The current DMX-3 requires less power than the competitor's high-end storage products
    
2. The DMX-4 and Enginuity 5772 delivers even more performance without requiring more power than the DMX-3
    
3. The DMX-4 will support the new 750GB SATA-II drives, for an even greater power savings (lower $/GB and Watts/GB/year)

Pretty simple and straightforward.

But obviously also a very uncomfortable set of claims for both the competition. And apparently for the EMC nay-sayers who apparently can't accept the notion that EMC could actually be better on anything, much less such a fundamental matter as power & cooling.

He Hu Shall Not Be Named (Nor Linked) attempts his usual blogketing misdirection by focusing on the math he couldn't decipher (because it's not that mythical Hitachi Math, I guess). Of course he also asserts that virtualization is the answer to everything, now including Green IT (is World Hunger next?). On the other coast, IBM Brand Manager (and Fellow Blogger) Tony Pearson tries to redirect the conversation to focus on the power-efficiency of Linux mainframes vs. Intel servers, even as IBM remains the major reseller of EMC's VMware virtualization platform for Intel servers. Neither disavows EMC's claims, or even mentions the power utilization of their respective high-end storage products (much less defends their power-hungry designs).

Then there's the self-anointed Anti-EMC community, made up of certain other Fellow Bloggers, Industry Analysts, 2-ego-centric industry pundits (he hates to be included in the 'Industry Analyst' category), and the occasional blog comment/message board/discussion forum "contributor." These folks have chimed in from virtually every corner of the world to challenge the claims of DMX-3 and DMX-4 power advantage. And almost to the person, they mistakenly assert that the DMX-4's power advantage is only dues to the SATA drives, making it a hollow claim. From that simple misrepresentation of the truth, the discussion devolves into challenges about the performance, applicability or viability of low-cost storage in an enterprise array.

Allow me to set the record straight -

Both the DMX-4 and the DMX-3 require less power (& cooling) to support the identical drive, port and memory configurations as the competition.

0.023: kirby's next vacation?

Ok, normally I wouldn't do this. But I was among the first to welcome Kirby Wadsworth to the blogosphere (just like I scooped everyone this weekend on the entrance of Barry Whyte). So I think I've got dibs on this one.

Will Kirby get to finish his Revivio story, now that F5 is purchasing Acopia? His first installment was a definite cliff-hanger - I'm sure I'm not the only one who'll be if the story remains unfinished.

In any event, here's hoping that the acquisition doesn't stop Kirby from blogging - I mean, seriously, what would we do without the Sanity of the OSG around here (restrain yourself, 'Zilla-man).

0.022: be careful what you ask for

A couple of weeks ago, in the midst of what I'd like to believe was a very insightful debate on the merits of the SPC benchmarks, Barry Whyte of SVC-fame and I exchanged a couple of comments on Tony Pearson's blog. Silly me - in the heat of that debate, I suggested that Barry should have his own blog, since he is clearly up-close-and-personal with the SVC. Not to mention that I think he has a great first name.

So Barry has indeed started his own blog this weekend, entitled An exchange and discussion of Storage Virtualization. I'm proud to be one of the first to shine the spotlight on his efforts. I know I'm probably going to regret having made this suggestion in the first place, so I figured I might as well put as much pressure on him as possible right from the outset.

I sincerely look forward to Barry's engineering and technical perspectives on Storage Virtualization, and I'm not surprised in the least that he has avowed to stay away from the misrepresentations common on the blog of He Hu Shall Not Be Named. I am sure that the two Barrys will get the chance to knock heads every once in a while, and I sincerely hope that we both add value to the discussions.

So, BarryW, here's a hearty welcome to the blogosphere from BarryB (and perhaps your first Technorati Authority points from a non-IBM blogger)!

Welcome!