Software defined storage and Ceph

Q

We’ve heard a lot about software defined storage (SDS) lately.
What is it?

A
Software defined storage is a term people are using to describe large-scale, distributed storage solutions that are implemented in software and run on everyday hardware.
Instead of buying a storage appliance from a proprietary vendor (returning to that vendor when it’s time to expand, upgrade, and repair it) customers can buy the hardware of their choice and use software to accomplish the same goal. A software defined storage platform can usually work with a combination of disks, SSDs, and in-memory storage to deliver a comprehensive solution.
Software defined storage solutions are more than just an orchestration layer that ties together proprietary, monolithic, expensive storage appliances and makes them scale in limited ways. True software defined storage platforms are distributed and allow you to scale each component with complete flexibility.

Q
Why does this matter? Why is software defined storage
important?

A
Enterprises of all sizes are becoming increasingly worried about their growing storage burden and recognizing that they need a new approach.
Because software defined storage systems like Ceph can be deployed on almost any hardware, it’s much easier to meet specific business needs and fit within IT budgets. That becomes more important with every passing year as the amount of data we capture and manage continues to grow – in fact, a recent IDC and EMC study found that data stores will be 8 to 10 times bigger in 2020 than they are now. Without new cost-effective, flexible storage solutions, there’s just no way enterprises can keep up.

Q
You mentioned Ceph. What is Ceph, and how does it fit in?

A
Ceph was developed from the ground up as a next-generation storage platform. It is software, which allows it to solve a lot of problems that traditional hardware-based storage solutions can’t. Ceph wasn’t built by a single company – it’s open source, and was created by a community of researchers and engineers. Today, Ceph includes contributions from nearly 200 authors working for a variety of companies.
Because of tight integrations with OpenStack, CloudStack, Proxmox, and FlexiScale, Ceph is a great solution for object and block storage in cloud computing environments. We’ve also found that Ceph is a solid replacement for legacy storage systems and, in fact, it has begun to replace the costly SAN systems that many enterprises are still using to store unstructured data.
Ceph is amongst a small group of software defined storage technologies, and it’s one of only two or three that are making unified storage – object, block, and file storage in the same system – a reality.

Q
Why is unified storage important?

A
Storage needs vary quite a bit, and different needs require different kinds of storage. Object storage is great for, among other things, unstructured data. If you run virtual machines, they expect blocks. Legacy applications are more likely to look for files and directories. A unified storage solution can satisfy all three of those use cases, instead of requiring three separate systems for each. That means streamlined provisioning, more focused management windows, and better economies of scale.

Q
You said Ceph was “open source”. What does that mean, and
why does it matter?

A
Ceph is open source software, and was built as a result of a community effort. We think that’s a great way to build technology, and it ensures that the future of Ceph isn’t controlled by any one company. Being open source, Ceph is also distributed free of charge. In other words: this technology is available to anyone who wants it, and it can be improved upon by anyone who wishes to.
Open source software already powers most web servers, most large online retailers, most search engines, and most service providers. No matter what your definition of “the cloud” is, open source is powering a very large part of it. In all likelihood, it’s inside your web browser and it powers your mobile phone, even the one with (most of) a fruit on the back. The Internet is already powered by open source, and we think storage should be too.

Q
What does your company, Inktank, do?

A
At Inktank, we deliver the power of Ceph to enterprise users by helping them evaluate, adopt, and run their own storage clusters. We are the project’s primary sponsor and largest contributor, and we know how to deliver this radically transformative technology and support it. We offer enterprise subscriptions and professional services that help enterprises decrease their storage costs, increase their operational flexibility, and break free of expensive and restrictive proprietary storage systems.
Our current customers include hosting services, telecommunication service providers, financial services institutions, and research organizations that have a need for massively scalable, affordable storage and are pushing the envelope in cloud computing.

Q
Where can people learn more about Ceph and Inktank?

A
We have information about Ceph at ceph.com and information about Inktank at inktank.com. Inktank is also going on the road with Ceph Days, to which we invite partners and customers. There’s one in London in October, and we are planning more in Europe over the coming months.