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Initially, managing storage capacity of disk was an easy task. The computer gurus got larger disk drives if higher storage was required. Soon when it was realized that there is increase in data storage, the computer experts attached additional disk drives for extra data storage. Immediately, computer gurus realized that it became prolonged and hard process to find the stored data. Thus, to manage this situation, the computer experts developed RAID, network attached storage and storage area networks. But then too, it became extremely hard to handle and set-up thousands of disk drives.

This was the time when the need for Storage Virtualization was felt. Storage Virtualization acts as a link between the storage system and servers by adding a new layer of software and/or hardware in-between the two. This helped the applications to track the data easily whether it is stored in any disk drive, partitions or storage sub-systems. This further helped the administrators to identify, handle and provide the dispersed storage just like a single, united resource. Also there was increased availability due to Storage Virtualization since the applications did not have resource restriction which thus protected it from any sort of disturbances. Storage Virtualization even enhances the storage capacity considerably and that too automatically, hence decreasing manual stipulation. It also helped to get the updates easily and instantly maintaining the performance pf the applications as well as reducing the downtime.

Technology: Storage Virtualization performs as a main interface between the storage and servers as it is a transitional layer. The Virtualization is considered to be the only storage device at the server end, whereas the virtualization is seen as their sole server by each storage device. Hence, this helps to categorize the storage systems easily and even devices from many sources in layers of storage.

It is possible for the user to exchange the tape or disk drives conveniently and this happens due to the fact that the applications and servers are protected from any change to storage device by the layer . At the storage virtualization layer, the data copying services are even effectively handled. Thus, this implies that the data recovery can be easily done by virtualization system at the time of disasters. As the data can be shifted at users will, the data that is not used often or any obsolete data can be shifted to low-cost storage devices.

The storage virtualization can planned in three ways:

- Host Based: The conventional device drivers maintain the physical drives and the software that is above the device driver cuts off I/O commands, sees the metadata and diverts I/O.

- Storage Device based: In this method, the storage virtualization is made into storage fabric. In this type of arrangement, the system offers repitition and rearrangement services through different controllers.

- Network based: In this type of arrangement, the storage virtualization is considered to be network based device. This arrangement generally uses Fiber Channel Networks linked as a SAN.

The computer experts consider all three set-ups to work efficiently. But, the Virtualization supports cross-vendor storage operation, aiding you to manage in multiple vendor sources. However, you are held in particular source by majority of arrangements.