Learn how to deliver storage-as-a-service within your organization to improve end user satisfaction, all while maintaining control of your storage environment. Presentation given at NetApp Insight event, November 2012.

1. Ron Smith, VP Sales & Marketing
iWave Software
NetApp Insight session #MG-2-711
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2. Why Change Storage Admin Status Quo?
 Growth in storage demands
 Maturing Storage Admin population
 Change in user expectations:
magnifying need to reduce
provisioning times
 Deployment of private cloud initiatives
 Increase in CIO “IT-as-a-Service” initiatives
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3. What is Storage-as-a Service (STaaS)?
 Users request storage services via self-
service portal
 Storage services are fully automated
 Can be “Private” or “Public”
 Private “Storage Clouds”
– Leverage your existing storage assets
– Hosted from your secure data center
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4. Storage-as-a Service: a “Win” for Users
 Mirrors consumer behavior from public
storage cloud services
 Reduces provisioning times from:
 Empowers users to request own storage
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5. Storage-as-a-Service: “Win” for Storage Admins
 Offloads and automates routine storage
administration tasks
 Automates the tracking of storage
consumption to storage users
 Scales existing storage admin staff to meet
growth rate in storage
 Enables storage support staff to evolve into
new “IT-as-a-Service” initiative
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6. So What’s Holding StaaS Back?
 Fear of loss of control
 Complex, heterogeneous storage infrastructure
 Organizational boundaries and politics
 Complex processes: scripts, CLIs and tribal knowledge
 Integration of ITSM tools and processes
 Lack of vendor & product standards
 Fear of change
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7. 5 Keys: Delivering Storage-as-a-Service
Determine the scope for your Storage-as-a-Service
project
Choose the right storage automation platform
Define & implement storage policies to maintain
control
Establish a continuous “Storage-as-a-Service” process
Integrate StaaS into your existing ITIL processes
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8. #1: Scope Your StaaS Offering
Process Candidates for
Identify storage tasks that can be STaaS Offering
automated based on:
 Frequency • Storage Provisioning
 Complexity • Storage Replication
 Routine/Mundane • Data Protection
 Cost • Data Migration
 Impact (if done wrong)
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9. Typical Storage Provisioning Process
Find Best
•Performance Available •Change Approval Provision •User Notification
•Capacity Storage •Scheduling Storage •Chargeback
•Compatibility •Maint. Windows •Asset Mgmt
•Usage Profile •Resource
•Data Protection •Tier/ Service Reservation •Storage Provisioning
Level
•Fabric Configuration
•Storage Array Complete
Analyze •Host Configuration
•Device Group Request
Storage •Application
•Device Type Approve & Configuration
Request •Data Path Schedule
Typical storage provisioning processes takes 3 – 25 business days in large organizations
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10. Admin Time Spent on Provisioning
Find Best
Available Provision
Storage Storage
Complete
Analyze
Request
Storage
Approve &
Request
Schedule
Typical storage provisioning processes takes 3 – 25 business days in large organizations
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11. #2: Choose Right Storage Automation Platform
• Self-service • Rules engine • Execute automated • RESTful API
storage services
• Web-based • Matches storage w/ • Drives every service
storage requests • Change control in the catalog
• Multi-tenant
• Works with different • Maintenance windows • Ability to integrate
• Role-based
arrays, fabric, hosts with 3rd party portals,
access control • Preview & roll-back
IT automation tools,
etc.
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12. #3 – Define & Implement Intelligent Policies
Application/Host Requirements Storage Attributes
• Storage admins set
selection policies
• Finds right storage to
• Infrastructure
fulfill automated storage
request • Disk speed, type etc.
• Performance
• Automatically chooses • Data Protection
the best “device group” (RAID, Snapshots,
• ASPs refine the set of
Replication)
candidate device groups • Acceptability
• Algorithm uses service
levels as input to select
the best device group
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13. #3 – Execute Services to Help You Maintain Control
• Executes automated storage services
• Performs pre-condition checks
• Supports rollback to “last known good
state” in event of failure
• Uses standardized execution plans
– XML Documents
– Defines pre-condition checks, execution &
rollback
– Enables storage admin modification
• Change control set on per service basis &
integrates with service desk tools
• Operates within maintenance windows
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14. #4 – Components for Policy Selection
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15. #4: Establish Continuous StaaS Process
Select storage
automation
solution
Incorporate Identify storage
feedback for profiles &
improvement processes
Develop
Get Feedback automation
services w/SDK
Deploy Storage
Automation
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16. #4: Establish Continuous StaaS Process
Identify storage
profiles &
processes
Incorporate Develop
feedback for automation
improvement services w/SDK
Storage-as-a-Service Process
Deploy Storage
Get Feedback
Automation
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17. #4 - Storage Automation Workflow
New services and adapters using Storage Administrators control via
SDK. New objects are created, execution plans & policies in an Self-service portal
managed by execution plans. admin console
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18. #5:Integrate Staas with ITIL Processes
CMDB
IT & Business Management Change
Approvals & Monitoring Management
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19. Deliver Storage-as-a-Service
Scope your Storage-as-a-Service project +
Choose the right storage automation platform +
Define & implement storage policies to maintain control +
Establish continuous StaaS process +
Integrate StaaS into existing ITIL processes
Happy
Happy
Storage
Users
Admins
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20. Copyright© 2012 iWave Software. All Rights Reserved 20

21. iWave Software Resources
Ron Smith
+1 469.287.5889, rsmith@iwavesoftware.com
Julius Clayton
+44 20 7492 1980, jclayton@iwavesoftware.com
www.iwavesoftware.com
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22. Copyright© 2012 iWave Software. All Rights Reserved 22