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NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: ANNE SKAMAROCK on
STORAGE 01/08/02 Today's focus: Storage resolutions Dear Wincenty Kaminski, In this issue: * Storage-related resolutions for 2002 * Featured reader resource _______________________________________________________________ This newsletter sponsored by Brocade Sharpen Your SAN Skills at the Brocade Conference 2002 Register now and save $200 Learn new SAN tips and techniques. Over 30 breakout presentations on research, design, implementation, and management. Training in fully equipped labs. Tradeshow with leading SAN solutions providers. Find out more-and register now for just $695. It's $895 after March 15. http://nww1.com/go/3785418a.html _______________________________________________________________ THE NETWORK POWER: 2001 Despite the roller coaster ride the economy has put us on this year, networking remains a thriving, vital industry. In Network World's Annual Signature Series POWER ISSUE, you'll find profiles of companies exercising their influence, people grabbing opportunity and technologies making their mark in the enterprise. Find out who has exerted the power in 2001 at: http://nww1.com/go/ad221.html _______________________________________________________________ Today's focus: Storage resolutions By Anne Skamarock Most of us are resolving not make the same mistakes we did last year. In that vein, let me be so bold as to suggest several New Year's resolutions for IT management regarding storage and management of that storage. 1. I resolve to actively deter all thought of IT being merely a cost center and promote the value of the IT organization as a vital part of the business revenue stream. Information is key to business. Efficient management of that information and the applications that utilize it transforms IT from a cost center that must be maintained into a vital part of the revenue chain. 2. I will not buy one more gigabyte of storage until I have a complete understanding of the capacity I currently have as well as the data stored therein. With the drop in cost of disks, it has become easy to "just throw more storage at the problem." Of course, most of us have learned that the storage is, relatively speaking, the easy part. It's the ripple effect that's strangling IT today: More storage = More data = Longer backup windows + More personnel = Higher costs Being proactive within IT means understanding the current environment and both current and future requirements. To understand the current environment, look to storage resource management (SRM) software available today from companies like Sun, WQuinn, or NTP Software. These can discover and report on your current storage capacity. Some of the more sophisticated SRM tools can tell you where data duplication is occurring and flag specified file types. 3. Once I have an understanding of the current storage environment, I will develop a comprehensive strategy to manage the storage, the data and the people using and managing that storage. Understanding the environment is the first step toward proactive management. The second step is to have a plan. Many SRM tools provide trend information to help evaluate capacity run-rates and allow for better planning. However, capacity is only one of the costs associated with storage management. Personnel performing tasks like provisioning, backup and recovery are part of the costs of running the business. Once there is a plan for storage growth, it's easier to assign people to the tasks. Finally, any storage strategy must include policies that direct user behaviors. Being a user myself, without limits I will consume all available storage. It's not because I'm evil (some may challenge that statement); it's because I am not forced to manage my own capacity. Also, SRM software can help determine if users are downloading MP3 files and also can show if there is massive duplication of certain files. 4. I understand that the data stored on those many disk drives is one of my company's most important resources that must be protected from human error, hardware failure, both internal and external attacks (from viruses, hackers and disgruntled employees) and catastrophes. I resolve to create a data protection strategy that spans my business. What is the survivability of my business if data are lost? This is the question we all must ask ourselves. Every company will answer this differently and will formulate different plans. Companies such as StorageNetworks and SunGard provide offsite backup and recovery for companies that require this level of protection but don't want to develop and run their own offsite facilities. With bandwidth prices dropping, there has never been a better time to consider these options. Even if you don't have the money for automatic offsite recovery, it is prudent for every business to put together a data protection strategy, starting with regular backups. 5. I will investigate solutions beyond those available from my server vendor if for no other reason than to validate the solution my server vendor has recommended. Our market data suggest that most storage and storage management products continue to be purchased from server vendors. This is understandable, as it simplifies the many choices and gives IT management one throat to choke when things go wrong. However, there are many storage hardware and storage management software companies today that can provide broader storage capabilities than server vendors can. Understanding those capabilities and the tradeoffs of going strictly with a server vendor allow you to make informed decisions. With these five suggestions for managing storage, I bid you all a successful and prosperous New Year! _______________________________________________________________ To contact Anne Skamarock: Anne Skamarock is an analyst with Enterprise Management Associates (http://www.enterprisemanagement.com). She has worked with networked storage for the last 15 years and is currently focused on the storage practice within EMA. She can be reached at mailto:askamarock@enterprisemanagement.com _______________________________________________________________ Register your company on Buy IT, NW Fusion's Vendor Directory and RFP Center and generate new business quick and easy! Promote your brand across our network and access millions of dollars in RFPs. It's the most efficient way to connect with buyers of IT services. Get listed now! http://www.nwfusion.newmediary.com/091201nwwprovnwltr2 _______________________________________________________________ RELATED EDITORIAL LINKS SONET provides high-performance SAN extension Network World, 01/07/02 http://www.nwfusion.com/news/tech/2002/0107tech.html _______________________________________________________________ FEATURED READER RESOURCE Network World Fusion's Net.Worker site Whether your company is growing larger or scaling back, corporate managers are looking for ways to cut costs while retaining and recruiting star employees. One smart solution - at least on paper - is to let some employees work from home. Network World's Net.Worker Web site bridges the gap between the telework concept and the hardware, software and services needed to make it happen. We bring you news and reviews, sound advice and keen insight into the technologies and solutions you need to manage a remote and mobile workforce. Visit http://www.nwfusion.com/net.worker/index.html _______________________________________________________________ May We Send You a Free Print Subscription? You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered at your fingertips each day. Now, extend your knowledge by receiving 51 FREE issues to our print publication. Apply today at http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/nl _______________________________________________________________ SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World e-mail newsletters, go to: http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/news/scripts/notprinteditnews.asp To unsubscribe from promotional e-mail go to: http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/ep To change your e-mail address, go to: http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/news/scripts/changeemail.asp Subscription questions? Contact Customer Service by replying to this message. Have editorial comments? Write Jeff Caruso, Newsletter Editor, at: mailto:jcaruso@nww.com For advertising information, write Jamie Kalbach, Director of Online Sales, at: mailto:jkalbach@nww.com Copyright Network World, Inc., 2002 ------------------------ This message was sent to: vkamins@enron.com
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