Open vStorage delivers ‘breakthrough’ software defined storage layer

CloudFounders, developer of cloud software, has launched to pilot customers its Open vStorage software, the first software defined storage layer to support OpenStack, VMware and Amazon S3.

Open vStorage is a significant innovation for the storage industry as the first VM centric storage architecture that combines the function of a SAN, high speed SSD caching, offsite replication, encryption and compression. Open vStorage software defined storage layer installs on x86 hardware or as a Virtual Storage Appliance (VSA) bringing storage intelligence into software that runs closer to compute with the ability to use multiple storage back ends.

“Open vStorage dramatically changes the cost dynamic of how enterprise customers will deploy storage in the future,” explains Joost Metten, CEO for CloudFounders, “With the arrival of Open vStorage, for the first time we have the ability to create true cloud ready storage yet still retain the performance benefits and high availability of on premise hardware – this is a revolutionary step!”

Open vStorage works with a fast location based storage model close to the hypervisor by making use of a 2 tier deduped cache running on Flash or SSD to deliver high performance storage characteristics. In addition, the Scale-out architecture offers extended reliability by moving high availability into software with N+1 failover with optional erasure encoding to remove the dependency on dual hardware controllers or complex backup strategies.
“It is clear that current storage technology is not suitable for cloud interoperability and true data mobility,” explains Metten, “The server virtualisation technologies that have become critical to the success of the cloud are fundamentally tied to and limited by storage hardware that does not deliver the required features, scalability or flexibility without costly and complex management or integration challenges.”

Metten points to initial test results showing huge reductions in per VM storage costs while increasing IO by several times current levels as examples of the potential offered by Open vStorage. “We recognise that we are not alone in advocating a move to a software defined layer for storage but our commitment to VMware and OpenStack while allowing enterprise customers to use their existing investments is, we believe, unique.”

“We also recognise that enterprises need choice so we have dedicated support for Amazon S3 and any OpenStack Swift based backend to allow the creation of hybrid storage that spans both local and cloud based infrastructure.”

“The last element that differentiates us is our integration with cache technologies as part of the core platform to improve all performance metrics and not just as a bandage to artificially boost speeds in synthetic tests,” explains Metten, “In our labs, we take standard off-the-shelf Dell, IBM, HP and Cisco hardware and use Open vStorage alongside VMware to build storage platforms that both outperform and cost significantly less than any rival platform we have tested against – and now with our Beta, we will get independent validation from enterprise customers from across the world that will provide concrete evidence of the power of Open vStorage.”