What is OpenStorage?

OpenStorage refers to storage systems built with an open architecture, using industry-standard hardware, and state-of-the-art storage software. Founded in 2005, Nexenta is the developer of NexentaStor, the leading OpenStorage, enterprise-class storage solution available today. NexentaStor uses open standards and protocols that have been accepted across industries and, with its open architecture, the system can be upgraded easily, significantly reducing costs by sidestepping proprietary hardware that only can be sourced from a single vendor.

In a recent storage survey, more than 85% of medium and large enterprise users, along with storage integrators, expect to use or deploy OpenStorage in their IT environments within the next 18 months. More than two thirds (70%) of respondents believe OpenStorage usage eventually will replace or overtake the proprietary storage solutions in use today.

Key Drivers for OpenStorage

The rapid pace of hardware innovation, along with the standardization of hardware, is causing customers to reconsider storage options available to them. In many cases, exponential growth in storage has led to exponential costs. OpenStorage, hardware-agnostic solutions, and the economics involved become significant factors in long-term storage decisions. One of the reasons for OpenStorage growth is that with traditional legacy systems, the cost can be unsustainable due to its inflexibility. Surveys have shown that cutting traditional enterprise storage costs and having a customized storage solution are key drivers in the industry. Specifically, reasons for the switch to OpenStorage include:

  • Cutting enterprise storage costs (52%)
  • More customized storage solutions (30%)
  • No vendor locked-in (18%)

Benefits of OpenStorage

Regardless of where data resides (remote office or data center), what type of media it is stored on (disk or tape), or its age (recent backup or long-term archive), NexentaStor provides automated data transference, between sites and storage tiers, all from a single management point. Other NexentaStor benefits include:

No vendor lock-in:

NexentaStor helps avoid forklift upgrades, and the high cost of proprietary hardware, associated with so-called enhancements.

Solution Flexibility:

No force fitting into preconfigured solution. Users now can configure the software to match business-specific needs.

Future-proofing:

Upgrade with the latest hardware but still maintain the same software, thereby saving productivity time and upgrade costs.

NexentaStor runs on industry-standard hardware, a fundamental pillar of OpenStorage, which provides dramatically lower costs than proprietary solutions. Up-front initial purchase savings are considerable, and even greater over time as customers are able to buy industry standard hardware for capacity expansion, as opposed to being locked-in to the much higher costs of expanding a legacy storage solution. NexentaStor, using OpenStorage, provides a measurable return on investment.