The IBM Storage product portfolio includes disk, flash, tape, NAS storage products, storage software and services. IBM's approach is to focus on data management.[1]
IBM Spectrum Storage portfolio can centrally manage more than 300 different storage devices and yottabytes of data.[citation needed]
The functionality of Spectrum Accelerate is based on the IBM XIV, a high-end disk storage system. IBM Spectrum Accelerate and XIV run the same base software stack and interoperate with features such as management, remote replication and volume mobility.[2][3]
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Further information: IBM Spectrum Scale |
IBM Spectrum Scale is software-defined storage for cloud and analytics.
The product is very widely used in both commercial and academic environments. It has a history going back to the mid 1990s. It was known as GPFS before IBM re-branded all storage products in 2015.[citation needed]
IBM Spectrum Virtualize is a block storage virtualization system. Because the IBM Storwize V7000 uses SVC code, it can also be used to perform storage virtualization in exactly the same way as SVC. Since mid-2012 it offers real time compression with no performance impact, saving up to 80% of disk utilization. SVC can be configured on a Stretched Cluster Mode, with automatic failover between two datacenters and can have SSD that can be used by EasyTier software to perform sub-LUN automatic tiering.[citation needed]
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Further information: IBM Spectrum Control |
IBM Spectrum Control provides infrastructure management for virtualized, cloud and software-defined storage.[4][5]
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Further information: IBM Tivoli Storage Manager |
IBM Spectrum Protect is a progression of the Tivoli Storage Management product.[citation needed]
It allows users to run any application designed for disk files against tape data without concern for the fact that the data is physically stored on tape.[6]
IBM offers four options:
IBM SmartCloud Storage Access is a software application designed to create a private cloud storage service on existing storage devices. The software can be configured to allow users self-service, Internet-based access for account creation, storage provisioning and file management. The software offers simple management with monitoring and reporting capabilities, including storage usage by user and group definitions.[7]
The Active Cloud Engine (ACE) is an advanced form of multiple site replication. ACE is designed to allow different types of cloud implementations to exchange data dynamically. ACE does is designed to extend the SONAS capability for a single, centrally managed namespace, to a truly distributed, geographically dispersed, global namespace.[8]
IBM Easy Tier is designed to automate data placement throughout the disk pool to improve the efficiency and performance of the storage system. Easy Tier is designed to relocate data (at the extent level) across up to three drive tiers automatically and without disruption to application. IBM Easy Tier is available on the DS8000, Storwize (V7000, V7000 Unified, V5000, V3700 lines) and SAN Volume Controller.
After 2019 IBM dropped the HDD- and SSD-based storage server series and all current lines provide only flash-oriented or tape-oriented solutions.
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Main article: IBM FlashSystem |
IBM FlashSystem offers a range of dedicated, non-SSD "all-flash" storage systems and based on a Intel x86 platform.
IBM acquired flash storage system maker Texas Memory Systems in 2012,[9] In April 2013, IBM announced a plan for a $1 billion investment in flash storage research and development,[10] and then the product line-up was renewed in 2014 with the announcement of the FlashSystem 840[11] and FlashSystem V840.[12] IBM has been refreshing those systems and adding new capabilities every year. Former FlashSystem has 1U-size solutions only, current lineup contains rackable systems with 1U, 2U or 6U form-factor, and based on a 6U modules cabinet-size solution.
In 2017 FlashSystem brand replaces XIV brand, and in 2020 FlashSystem replaces Storwize brand.
IBM Data Engine for NoSQL - is an integrated black-box device combining an IBM PowerLinux server with FlashSystem modules attached as non-volatile memory extension (not as storage).The integrated system offers large capacity NoSQL services based on pre-loaded Redis, Cassandra and Neo4J, up to 57 TB in-memory instances. Compared to a clustered in-memory implementation, the Data Engine for NoSQL consumes a fraction of the power and rack footprint while delivering similar performance by keeping relevant (hashing) data structures in fast memory. Use cases include scalable web shops, gaming, genomics, geolocation, catalogs, hash tables and cluster caches like memcached.
IBM Power-based storage series, that offers specialized advanced functions optimized for IBM Power Systems and IBM Z servers; This line early known as System Storage DS series, and former TotalStorage DS series; current models slowly dropped the "System Storage" naming prior to simple line names (DS#### for flash systems, TS#### for tape storage). Currently DS series contains only DS8000 sub-line.
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Main article: IBM DS8000 series |
Like the similar DS storage series, the tape system lines early known as System Storage TS series or former TotalStorage TS series and based on a IBM POWER controllers.
General purpose tape library series.
The IBM® TS4500 Tape Library is designed to help midsized and large enterprises respond to cloud storage challenges. It incorporates the latest generation of industry-leading linear tape-open (LTO) and IBM enterprise class technology that will help organizations handle the growing data demands of modern tape use cases. including data volume growth, rising storage footprint costs, data migration efforts and the increased complexity of IT training and management as staff resources shrink.
IBM® TS4300 Tape Library is a high-density, highly scalable, easy-to-manage solution designed to keep data securely stored long-term, while helping reduce the costs associated with data center space and utilities. Its modular design enables you to increase cartridge and drive capacity as needed—scale vertically up to seven modules with expansion for Linear Tape-Open (LTO) Ultrium cartridges, drives and redundant power supplies. IBM TS4300 enhanced modern data protection helps meet security and compliance requirements.
The IBM® TS2900 Tape Autoloader is an entry-level automated backup for rack systems and small to midsize businesses. With a low-profile, high-density storage capacity, the TS2900 is ideally suited for backup and archival operations. The TS2900 is available with half-height LTO Ultrium tape technology, with 6 Gbps SAS drive options. Web-based remote management and a bar code reader help provide ease of use. The TS2900 can be used in a rack system or on a desktop next to a server in an office.
The IBM System Storage TS2230 Tape Drive, Model Type 3580, Model H3V, is a high-performance, high-capacity data-storage device that is designed to backup and restore open systems applications. It is the third generation in the Ultrium series of products, and is available with a Serial Attached SCSI interface (SAS). This model incorporates the Linear Tape-Open (LTO) IBM Ultrium 3 Half-High Tape Drive.
The IBM TS1150 tape drive gives organizations an easy way to deliver fast access to data, improve security and provide long-term retention—and for less expense than disk solutions. TS1150 offers high-performance, flexible data storage with support for data encryption. This fifth-generation drive can help protect investments in tape automation by offering compatibility with existing automation. Plus, an upgrade model is available for existing IBM TS1140 tape drives. What’s more, TS1150 supports the LTFS format in IBM Spectrum Archive for direct, intuitive and graphical access to data.
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Main article: PureSystems § PureData |
Was introduced in 2012[20] for replacing the Netezza line.
High IOPS PCIe Adapters – PCIe card adapters for former IBM System x servers, offering capacities up to 2.4 TB. Moved to Lenovo.
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Main article: IBM XIV Storage System |
The IBM XIV Storage System was configured as cabinet-size solution and designed to work well in cloud and virtualized environments. The last XIV Gen3 model offers 2, 3, 4 or 6 TB drives, providing up to 485 TB of usable capacity per rack. SSD caching (available as an option) adds up to 12 TB of management-free high-performance data caching capability to the entire array. The system can also connect to external storage via Fibre Channel (8Gbit/s) and iSCSi (1 or 10 Gbit/s).[23] The XIV line was replaced by IBM FlashSystem line.[24]
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Main article: IBM Storwize |
The Storwize family of storage controllers shares the software with the IBM SAN Volume Controller and offers the same functionality with few exceptions. Storwize systems are capable of external virtualization, and oriented for technology migration and investment protection for aging systems. Storwize advanced caching, free-of-charge Easy Tier (automatic data placement) and automatic hotspot elimination help infuse a second life to previous-generation storage systems. Modern virtualization functions like inline real-time compression for data on external systems can help delay capacity repurchase for several years.
Transparent Cloud Tiering for Swift- and S3-compatible object datastores can be used as a cold tier for incremental volume snapshots and volume archives without live production access. This allows keeping hourly time machine copies or archiving VM images including attached volumes at a price point somewhat closer to tape media. Supported on-premise datastores include IBM Cloud Object Store (aka Cleversafe) and IBM Spectrum Scale object. Off-premise datastores would be popular S3-compatible cloud services like IBM Bluemix (aka Cleversafe cloud). Off-premise Transparent Cloud Tiering per default uses AES encryption, which is a licensed feature.
IBM Storwize High-Density Expansion 5U92 for Storwize V5000 Gen2, V7000 and SAN Volume Controller, attaching via 12Gb SAS lanes. This high density carrier hosts 92 hot-swappable large form factor drives in 5U rack height. Use cases include general footprint reduction, active archives, streaming media applications, or big data warehouses.
Peak performance figures are equivalent to four chained 2U Storwize EXP 12Gb SAS expansions, at equal total number (and type) of drives.
Some System Storage DS8000 Series (models DS8###F)
IBM Scale Out Network Attached Storage (SONAS) was the IBM enterprise x86-based storage platform based on GPFS technology, and released in 2010[29] as hardware product. This system implements NAS based protocols over a large-scale global name space. Today the system can scale out using commodity components to 30 balanced nodes and up to 21 PB of storage in 2011.[30] The 2013 lineup was based on a DCS3700 storage line.[31] GPFS gives the SONAS system with built-in ILM and tight integration with Tivoli Storage Manager helps move data to disk pools.[32]
High density tape library supporting Linear Tape-Open (LTO) 5 and 6 or TS1140 and TS1150 drives. Can scale up to 35.5 PB of native capacity with 3592 cartridges and up to 11.7 PB with LTO 6 cartridges. Supports up to 5.5 PB in 10 sq ft.[33]
Highly scalable tape library supporting Linear Tape-Open (LTO) or TS11x0 drives. Can scale up to 16 frames, 192 drives and over 20,000 cartridges capacity per library string or up to 2,700 drives per library complex.[34]
