SANRAD VXL Software - Accelerate Virtual Machines with Host Based Flash
SANRAD’s VXL software delivers SANRAD’s Flash caching and virtualization technology into server virtualization platforms.Key capabilities of the VXL include:
- Efficient dynamic distribution of host-based FLASH resources to guest virtual machines via its application optimized cache engine
- Supports key enterprise-class storage data center requirements like high availability, storage virtualization, and resilience
- Runs on VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, and Xen-based hypervisors
- Guarantees cache migration for vMotion – Cached data is treated as a virtualized storage entity and can be migrated between ESX servers along with the virtual volumes without performance loss
- Allows for caching over highly available mirrored volumes, ensuring that a single FLASH resource is used to accelerate both copies of the data, doubling the efficiency of FLASH utilization
- No agent required on the application virtual machine
- Central management is provided, so that IT does not need to manage each accelerated virtual machine separately
HOW IT WORKS
SANRAD’s software is deployed as a virtual appliance on the host server, distributing the FLASH resources on demand across application virtual machines to maximize the performance of key applications.
The caching algorithm includes application optimized caching strategies to decide what data to cache on the FLASH. The algorithm is transparent to the virtual machines, which are exposed to a seamlessly accelerated virtual volume.
The Flash cache is shared dynamically between all VMs, and the caching software ensures that the Flash cache is optimally utilized at all times, regardless of how many VMs are running concurrently.
In the VXL solution no guest virtual machine agents are require. The VXL iSCSI connectivity enables support of most modern operating systems including all variants of Windows and Linux servers. This is in contrast to other caching solutions which require an installation of an agent or driver on each VM.
By combining storage acceleration and storage virtualization capabilities, The VXL supports vMotion without loss of cache.
SANRAD Acceleration and Virtualization Solution for Virtual Servers
|
Feature |
SANRAD & Host Flash |
|
Acceleration over Flash Cache PCIe or SSD |
Storage access acceleration using policy-based caching algorithms. Cache is an internal PCI-E or SSDs in the server. |
|
Dynamic Cache Allocation |
Allocate the FLASH dynamically based on needs of all application at different loads throughout the day. |
|
Supported Virtualization Platforms |
VMware ESX Microsoft Hyper-V Xen-based Virtualization |
|
Supported Virtual Machines Operating Systems |
Windows all variants Linux all variants Others (any with iSCSI initiators) |
|
vMotion Support |
Ability to migrate virtual server without loss of cache data |
|
Agentless Connectivity |
No installation required on guest virtual machines; virtual machines connect via virtual internal iSCSI links. |
|
SLA protection for High -priority Applications |
Users can define bandwidth access priority and protection for selected virtual machines |
|
Live Data Migration |
Supports live data migration without affecting caching
|
|
High Availability and Data mirroring |
Efficient combination of caching algorithm with mirroring and high availability of storage |
|
Data Replication (disaster recovery) |
Integrated, enables use of FLASH resources for replication without affecting performance |