* Storage virtualization is easy first step toward next-generation data center

By Andreas M. Antonopoulos, Network World, 05/17/05

There are three steps towards the next-generation data center.

First is consolidation of the storage, computing and network resources into “pools” that can be allocated for any application. The second step is to standardize these resources so that they can be used interchangeably - for example, you can substitute one server for another without changing the application. The last step is to virtualize and “tier” the resources so that you can deploy an application with the correct level of isolation, reliability, performance and security.

Many companies have already made significant progress in realizing this vision of the next-generation data center. Enterprise IT executives have had the most success using storage-area networks (SAN) to implement a strategy of consolidation and virtualization. The success in storage consolidation and virtualization can provide broader insights into the power of the next-generation model.