Gittlen, Sandra. "Thin Provisioning: Don't Let the Gotchas Getcha" Network World 26:4 (January 26, 2009), p.32,34.
Existing Citations
provisioning (p.32): Next-generation storage is all about dynamic allocation of resources, and thin provisioning can get that job done quickly and easily - but not carefree. As thin provisioning - also called dynamic provisioning or flex volumes - becomes a standard feature in virtual storage arrays, IT executives and other experts warn that dynamic resource allocation is not a one-size-fitsall proposition. Applying the technology in the wrong way could create a major disaster, they caution. (†1431)
provisioning (p.32): In traditional storage networks, IT has to project the amount of storage a particular application will need over time, then cordon off that disk space. This means buying more hardware than is needed immediately, as well as keeping poorly utilized disks spinning ceaselessly - a waste of money and energy resources. With thin provisioning, IT can keep storage growth in check because it need not commit physical disk space for the projected amount of storage an application requires. Instead, IT relies on a pool of disk space that it draws from as the application needs more storage. Having fewer idling disks means better capacity management, increased utilization, and lower power and cooling consumption. (†1432)
provisioning (p.34): Thin provisioning can wreak havoc on your network if you don't have proper allotment policies in place, says Matt Vance, CIO at Nutraceutical, a health supplements company in Park City Utah. "IT has always managed and controlled space utilization, but with thin provisioning you can get a false sense of security We've found that even with a resource pool, you still need to take responsibility in managing the way people receive and use storage. Otherwise you wind up wasting space, and that's hard to clean up after the fact," Vance says. For instance, being lax about monitoring the amount of space users and applications are absorbing can lead to overspending on hardware and software, and necessitate an increase in system management. This is particularly concerning in Vance's environment, where the principal driver for moving to virtualization and thin provisioning was the need to bring high-performance database applications online quickly without breaking the bank on storage requirements. (†1433)
