EMC has released ViPR 2.0 – a software-defined storage platform that it claims dramatically simplifies the management of both existing and new storage infrastructure.
The new solution is also said to provides new data services to underpin next-generation applications and Big Data analytics.
ViPR 2.0 builds a bridge to the 3rd Platform of IT by enabling customers to manage both existing and new storage infrastructures in a consistent, fully automated way. ViPR also plugs into higher-level management and orchestration tools from VMware, OpenStack and Microsoft so storage can be a part of broader data center workflows.
The value of EMC’s ViPR Software Defined Storage Platform is that it separates the Control Plane (which is the ability to centrally manage various storage array functions including discovery, provisioning and reporting through ViPR Controller) from the Data Plane (which are advanced data services that run on top of storage arrays through ViPR Data Services delivering, for example, object capabilities to file-based platforms or block capabilities to commodity platforms). By decoupling the Control Plane from the Data Plane, ViPR simplifies management of intelligent arrays while leveraging their underlying intelligence in a fully automated way that is based on policy.
In addition to its management capabilities, ViPR Data Services have also been enhanced. Support for commodity drives is added to the existing object and HDFS storage implementation along with block data services, based on EMC ScaleIO.
ViPR 2.0 has added multi-site support through powerful new geo-scale storage capabilities which provide data access, integrity and protection. This means ViPR Object Data Services can now span multiple locations and offer state-of-the-art, patent pending geo-replication and geo-distribution capabilities to deliver new levels of efficiency and performance.
ViPR Object Data Services also add additional compliance capabilities to ensure federal, healthcare and other industry requirements are met, and provide support for the EMC Centera CAS (Content Addressable Storage) API. This allows EMC Centera customers to maintain the unique retention and compliance features offered by their applications on any ViPR-supported platform with no software changes required. The bottom line is that new ViPR Data Services provide access to data wherever users are, wherever the data is, whenever it’s needed.
In addition, ViPR 2.0 also adds ViPR Block Services, new data services based on EMC ScaleIO server-SAN software. ViPR Block Services deliver block storage capabilities to any ViPR managed commodity storage array.
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ViPR Controller now natively, and through a new OpenStack Cinder plugin, supports commodity as well as even more storage arrays. The full list of natively supported arrays now includes EMC, Hitachi Data Systems and NetApp — as well as commodity storage. Additionally, through the OpenStack Cinder plugin, ViPR supports Dell, HP and IBM arrays. With expanded support, ViPR now supports the vast majority of the storage arrays in the market today. In addition, ViPR 2.0 delivers simple "pane-of-glass" management for customers to automate and standardize the management of an existing storage infrastructure, while bridging the support for the new storage infrastructure that is policy-driven.
ViPR 2.0 also extends support for EMC arrays with improved integration and management of EMC VPLEX and EMC RecoverPoint. This also includes the addition of multi-site capabilities and augmented multi-tenancy to support geo-scale storage environments that scale to hundreds of tenants in multiple locations all through a single namespace.
EMC’s Software-Defined Storage software suites, ViPR SRM and Service Assurance (SA) Suite have also undergone significant enhancements. The updates to these suites are designed to give customers maximum visibility into complex multi-vendor environments. In addition to support for a broad range of EMC and third-party platforms, ViPR SRM delivers improved integration with both ViPR and VPLEX, providing new chargeback capabilities to enable organizations to offer IT-as-a-Service beyond SLAs. Enhancements to ViPR SRM also include enhanced virtual storage management through the ViPR console. SAS 9.3 boasts integration with VMware NSX, providing deep visibility into compute and network infrastructure in both physical and virtual environments.
Laura Dubois, programme VP, Storage Practice, IDC, said: "ViPR is the software-defined storage platform for companies looking to transform their storage infrastructure and gain the value and benefits of the 3rd Platform.
"The advancements in core capabilities – such as added third party array support, including commodity hardware, along with leading edge geo-replication and geo-distribution features will be necessary for any customer looking to leverage and expand their existing storage infrastructure. ViPR’s self-service storage capabilities reduce human error and provide a very simple, fast and smooth provisioning experience."
