Dynamic Tiering

When you use Dynamic Provisioning to implement a thin provisioning strategy, the array has all the elements in place to offer automatic self-optimizing storage tiers provided by Dynamic Tiering (HDT). Dynamic Tiering enables you to configure a storage system with multiple storage tiers consisting of different types of data drives (for example, SSD, SAS) to improve the speed and cost of performance. Dynamic Tiering extends and improves the functionality and value of the Dynamic Provisioning feature. Both features use pools of physical storage against which virtual disk capacity, or V-VOLs, is defined. Each thin provisioning pool can be configured to operate either as a DP pool or as a Dynamic Tiering pool. Dynamic Tiering is supported only on VSP Gx00 models.

Automated tiering of physical storage is the ability of the array to dynamically monitor usage and relocate data to the appropriate storage tier based on performance requirements. Data relocation focuses on data segments rather than on entire volumes. The Dynamic Tiering functionality is entirely within the array and does not require any host level involvement.

Dynamic Tiering enables you to:

  • Configure physical storage into tiers based on drive performance. Host volumes are configured as usual from a common pool, but the pool consists of multiple types of drives that offer different levels of performance (for example, high-speed SSDs and lower-speed SAS).
  • Automatically migrate data to the most suitable tier according to access frequency. Data that is accessed frequently is placed on the high-performance drives, while data that is accessed infrequently is placed on the lower-performance drives.

Dynamic Tiering simplifies storage administration by automating and eliminating the complexities of efficiently using tiered storage. It automatically moves data on pages in Dynamic Provisioning virtual volumes to the most appropriate storage media, according to workload, to maximize service levels and minimize total cost of storage.

Dynamic Tiering gives you:

  • Improved storage resource usage
  • Improved return on high-cost storage tiers
  • Reduced storage management effort
  • More automation
  • Nondisruptive storage management
  • Reduced costs
  • Improved overall performance
Parent Topic
  • Dynamic Tiering

    Dynamic Tiering (HDT) simplifies storage administration by automatically optimizing data placement in 1, 2 or 3 tiers of storage that can be defined and used within a single virtual volume. Tiers of storage can be made up of internal or external (virtualized) storage, and use of HDT can lower capital costs. Simplified and unified management of HDT allows for lower operational costs and reduces the challenges of ensuring applications are placed on the appropriate classes of storage.