Storage for Cloud Computing Environments

Clod Barrera, Distinguished Engineer and Chief Technical Strategist, IBM Systems & Technology Group
Stephen Edel, Program Director, Storage Portfolio Management, IBM

Cloud computing is now being held up as the ''next big thing'' for large compute and data deployments, and is already in use in some specialty application environments. It promises to simplify and automate operations, lower operating costs, improve business flexibility, and help users deal with the crisis of complexity. There are several technologies in play that help make this story real, including virtualization of servers and storage, converged data center networking, management models for mobile or branch office users, and Service Oriented Architecture. In this talk, we will cover the promise of Cloud Computing, including component technologies and the ultimate value in a variety of enterprise models.  

As a result of participating in this session, attendees will be able to:

• Examine the component technologies within Cloud Computing and the ultimate value in a variety of enterprise models
  
• Develop best practice approaches to adopting a Cloud model, and the steps required to improve operations
  
• Assess approaches to minimize the negative effects of heterogeneous legacy environments through the use of Storage Ensembles, collections of managed assets that play defined roles within the Cloud