EMC previews its take on software-defined storage ahead of EMC World with "Project Liberty," VNX-based virtualised storage software promising rich data services, ease-of-management and flexible deployment models.
The company does provide much in actual details, but says software-defined VNX arrays can handle varied and changing workloads on platforms such as virtual servers and hybrid clouds.
One use case has the rapid spinning of multiple virtual array instances in order to speed up application testing and development. Such deployment can take place from anywhere, be it remote office, central office or cloud.
"Project Liberty will enable these new applications to be seamlessly deployed on physical VNX storage systems with higher service levels-– all while enjoying a consistent management and rich user experience," EMC says.
Also previewed is an addition to the EMC entry-level product range-- the VNXe3200, an MCx-powered storage array the company claims is 300% more efficient than previous VNXe solution.
It carries FAST (Fully-Automated Storage Tiering) software, supports all major protocols (including fibre channel) and will also be available in VSPEX Proven Infrastructures handling up to 125 VMs and 500 virtual desktops, all in a compact 2U package.
A final EMC announcement is security-related-- Data-At-Rest-Encryption for VNX, aka VNX D@RE, controller-based encryption handling all drive types (including HDDs and SSDs) at drive level.
EMC gives no word when Project Liberty will be available, but the VNXe3200 ships on Q2 2014 while D@RE will be available in software upgrade form on Q3 2014.
