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Storage optimization“F5 ARX Series devices and F5Data Manager software can helporganizations realize the cost andmanagement advantages of Dellfile storage systems.”planning, time, and IT overhead required, evenwhen performing complex migrations andrestructuring file system layouts.• Storage tiering: Storage tiering helpsorganizations align the cost of storing data withtheir limited IT budgets. The basic premise is tomatch different classes of data with the mostappropriate type of storage. Many organizationshave already implemented tiering at the blocklevel using storage such as Dell EqualLogic PS Series Internet SCSI (iSCSI) storage areanetwork (SAN) arrays, or on a per-applicationbasis. ARX devices provide automated storagetiering policies that take advantage of theinherent business context of each file to helpdetermine the most appropriate place tostore it—active or high-value data on highperformancestorage, and inactive or low-valuefiles on lower-cost storage. When inactivedata represents a large percentage of all dataunder management, storage tiering can bea huge source of cost savings. In addition,organizations can now apply differentbackup policies to tiers with active andinactive data to help reduce backup windowsand media consumption.• Capacity balancing: Capacity balancingcombines multiple file storage resources intoa virtual storage pool. Similar to the capabilitiesof Dell EqualLogic PS Series storage betweendifferent arrays at the block level, virtual filesystems presented through ARX devices canutilize storage capacity from different back-endfile storage resources—allowing organizationsto reclaim stranded capacity from underutilizedstorage and redeploy it where data is growing.Automated policies can balance file placementacross multiple storage resources for consistentaggregate utilization.Although the lack of data mobility hampersthe ability of organizations to respond to datagrowth, enabling data mobility by itself is notenough to do so effectively. Effective datamanagement must be a repetitive process ofoptimizing how and where storage capacity ismost efficiently and cost-effectively deployed.F5 Data Manager software can helporganizations understand their changing datastorage requirements by providing customizedreporting on file storage and data characteristics.Detailed analysis of scanned data providescrucial information for planning and refining datamanagement policies.Taking advantage of Dell file storageF5 ARX Series devices and F5 Data Managersoftware can help organizations realize the costand management advantages of Dell file storagesystems. Organizations looking to migrate theirstorage infrastructure to Dell systems can doso without disruption or downtime, while thoselooking to augment their existing environmentcan take advantage of ARX automated tiering andload balancing policies to seamlessly integratethese systems:• Seamless integration of Dell storage: ARXdevices are designed to simplify managementof heterogeneous file storage environmentsand allow organizations to deploy Dell filestorage sys tems seamlessly alongside existingsystems. File virtualization masks the physicaldifferences between different storage typesfrom user and application clients, enablingorganizations to utilize available storagecapacity efficiently and effectively regardlessof type, platform, or vendor.• Simplified migration to Dell storage: ARXdevices help simplify and accelerate datamigration projects from legacy infrastructuresto Dell file storage systems. One of the biggesthurdles when replacing legacy file storage isthe potential disruption from migrating data.68 2010 Issue 02 | dell.com/powersolutionsReprinted from Dell Power Solutions, 2010 Issue 2. Copyright © 2010 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.