Virtualization vs. aggregation

Virtualization vs. aggregation

How would you compare Panasus global file system vs. Tricord?s Illumina DFS? Panasus claims to be NAS virtualization whereas Tricord claims to be NAS aggregation. What is the difference, pro and con of each approach?

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I'm not at all familiar with Panasus so I can't comment on that. Many NAS vendors are now claiming their products have "virtualization" to capitalize on all the press that virtualization is getting for providing the foundation for policy automation and significant reductions in administrative costs. You could easily say that they all do "virtualization" which just leads us to now require a further description of what "virtualization" actually is.

Unfortunately, the word has lost its meaning and must be considered in context of the product solution. I guess it was to be expected as some marketing people try to put their spin on things (and confuse their customers -- at least for a while).

The aggregation you asked about is a somewhat different subject. Aggregation means that the multiple entities are viewed and managed as a single entity. That can have a quantifiable economic benefit for administration.

Randy Kerns

Evaluator Group, Inc.


This was first published in August 2001

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