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Figure 4: Comparison of typical space utilization
Optimal capacity use
As every storage manager knows, as much as 70% (or more) of a storage system's total
storage capacity goes unused. Whether economic times are good or bad, that's a
troublesome scenario of capacity waste.
Why is it so hard for systems based on current-generation technology to use disk space
better?
►
Burden of buying capacity early. Pre-allocating storage requires the presence
of the defined physical capacity in the system, even if years go by before its use.
Upfront purchases commit capital unnecessarily and waste IT resources in
managing the unused capacity. Upfront capacity purchases also deprive the
organization of benefiting from advances in technology, cost improvements and
other advantages at the time the capacity is used.
►
Management overhead. Storage teams often over-allocate volumes to avoid the
time-consuming task of resizing them later. Reclaiming unused space is
cumbersome, requiring time and skill – purchasing more capacity is often
considered the lesser evil. (Of course, extra capacity also requires management
overhead.)
Copyright IBM Corporation 2009
7
TCO Reinvented
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