Primary Data DataSphere Adding Scale-Out File Services for VMware Virtual SAN

Primary Data, Inc. announced that its DataSphere software provides scale-out file services with VMware Virtual SAN.

The software-defined DataSphere platform enables VMware Virtual SAN to support file protocols in addition to its native block protocols. This provides the ability for VMware Virtual SAN to support additional applications within the same physical footprint, and allows VMware Virtual SAN to be deployed as both a hyper-converged solution as well as a scale out NAS solution.

“Data virtualization allows data to be decoupled from storage to deliver uncompromised performance, protection, and manageability,” said Lance Smith, CEO, Primary Data. “The powerful new software-defined capabilities made possible with DataSphere help customers get more bang out of every buck they invest in VMware Virtual SAN to meet changing data demands across even more workloads.”

DataSphere’s ability to extend VMware Virtual SAN to support file workloads helps customers reduce TCO. Customers no longer need to buy a separate NAS solution for file-based workloads, and the same administrator for VMware Virtual SAN can also administer storage for NAS, compounding savings. In addition, the company’s integration provides a differentiated scale-out NAS implementation for large data sets. Other offerings may be able to offer file services on Virtual SAN, but those implementations are limited to just two nodes, rather than taking advantage of the 64-node VMware vCenter Server cluster.

“Customers are deploying VMware Virtual SAN for enterprise workloads to simplify storage management and cut costs,” said Lee Caswell, VP, products, storage and availability business unit, VMware, Inc. “These same customers will benefit from Primary Data DataSphere file services as companies look at new ways to make IT investments pay off using software-defined solutions.“

Benefits of DataSphere for VMware Virtual SAN include:

• Integration with Storage Policy Based Management (SPBM) to provide granular visibility and pairing of storage resources to application needs

• Empowering VMware efficiency across storage resources: With DataSphere’s certified Universal VASA and Virtual Volumes providers for vSphere, all storage arrays immediate become Virtual Volumes-capable, simplifying storage management. DataSphere also integrates with VMware vCenter to further streamline management within customers’ VMware ecosystems

• Ensure achievement of application SLAs: With DataSphere, customers can define dynamic storage policies to ensure automatic reallocation of resources as application needs change

DataSphere also compliments VMware’s Storage Policy Based Management features, serving as a certified Universal Virtual Volumes provider for the VM-aware storage capabilities provided through vSphere Virtual Volumes integration and management software.

“Enterprises and midsized organizations continue to struggle with unstructured storage and complexity,” said Henry Baltazar, research director, storage, 451 Research. “Primary Data’s DataSphere will allow thousands of existing VSAN customers to add important file services to their deployments, mitigating the need to purchase and manage a separate NAS system to store and share data for a number of use cases.“

The DataSphere platform is available from the company and its reseller partners.