Storage virtualization abstracts space in physical hardware into software-defined storage which can be accessed by any end-user device. It lets multiple storage devices be viewed as one volume, and helps streamline data management.
Virtualization can be achieved in two ways: host based or network based. Host-based virtualization (typically used in HCI systems and cloud storage) uses software to direct traffic. The host or hyper-converged system, made up of multiple hosts, provide virtual drives to guest machines of any configuration, whether they are virtual machines in corporate environments, computers that connect to servers for file storage, and servers that use cloud storage to store data. The host employs software which maps the logical addresses of each block of disk data into an offset within the logical drive.
Network-based virtualization is an entirely different approach by moving the myvirtualstorage.blog/ipo-preparation-process-and-timeline/ complexity of the storage controller to a different layer than the virtualization hardware. This typically requires additional components, like an Ethernet switch to take on the additional I/O load. However, it is able to reduce costs while improving performance.
The layer that is above the virtualization hardware allows for backup and recovery to be carried out without the virtualization effecting it. It can also make it easier for IT teams to remotely solve problems and increase the resolution time. It can also help with scaling by removing the dependence between the location of files that are accessed at the basis of the file and the location they are kept on physical disks. This can be used to improve storage, consolidate servers, and execute non-disruptive files migrations.