vStorage

vStorage refers to a set of VMware technologies designed to optimize storage performance and management within a virtualized environment. It aims to enhance the efficiency of virtual machine storage by addressing common bottlenecks and providing advanced features. Key components of vStorage include Storage vMotion, Storage I/O Control, and Thin Provisioning.

Storage vMotion allows for the live migration of virtual machine disk files from one datastore to another without any downtime for the running virtual machine. This is crucial for storage maintenance, capacity balancing, and performance optimization without impacting user access.

Storage I/O Control (SIOC) provides granular control over I/O resources allocated to virtual machines. It helps prevent I/O contention by dynamically adjusting I/O shares based on demand, ensuring that critical workloads receive the necessary storage performance. SIOC can prioritize I/O for certain virtual machines or groups of virtual machines, guaranteeing a minimum level of performance.

Thin Provisioning is a feature that allows storage to be consumed by virtual machines only as it is actually needed. Instead of allocating the full size of a virtual disk upfront, thin provisioning allows for a virtual disk to grow dynamically. This conserves storage space and can reduce storage costs. vStorage also encompasses features like vSphere Data Protection for backup and recovery, and vSphere Replication for disaster recovery. These technologies collectively contribute to a more flexible, efficient, and robust storage infrastructure in virtualized data centers.