Implementing capacity management processes for a complex SAN storage environment can be a daunting task. For SAN administrators it typically takes a back seat to more tactical operations like allocating storage, hardware updates, and firefighting.
Determining who is responsible for such a capacity management process can also be a difficult question to answer as there are typically overlapping areas of responsibility and internal politics that complicate the issue. Those who normally do traditional capacity reporting and analysis may not have sufficient knowledge of the SAN environment to effectively report on it.
Once responsibilities are sorted out, you need to clearly define and document your requirements and objectives. A tool, such as athene, should be selected that provides automated trending and exception reporting and a centralized reporting structure. Feeding back the information from this reporting is critical in gaining value from the effort and should be integral to the process.
Data can be looked at from multiple perspectives such as the host, fabric/network, storage controller, and other devices but collecting data from all these sources for centralized reporting can be a major challenge. Some vendors may claim to do it all, but in the end there will likely be many challenges regardless.
Two key area of focus should be response at the host and storage capacity utilization.
Classic I/O intense applications are data warehouses, BI operations, large databases, and busy mail servers.
I’ll be discussing ways to assist the storage administrator in the complex task of managing SAN attached storage at my webinar ‘Capacity Management for SAN Attached Storage’ March 24 – register now and join me.
Principal Consultant
Dale Feiste
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