Description: Shared storage allows multiple virtual machines to access the same storage resources, facilitating management and efficiency in virtualized environments. This type of storage is fundamental in virtualization architectures, where the goal is to maximize the use of available resources. Through technologies like SAN (Storage Area Network), NAS (Network Attached Storage), and cloud storage solutions such as Azure Blob Storage, shared storage becomes a key solution for implementing scalable and flexible IT infrastructures. Key features include concurrent access capability, data redundancy, and ease of management. Additionally, it enables live migration of virtual machines, meaning they can be moved without downtime, thus improving service availability. In the context of supercomputers, shared storage is essential for processing large volumes of data, allowing multiple nodes to access the same information efficiently. In summary, shared storage is a fundamental piece in modern IT architecture, optimizing performance and resource management in virtualized and distributed environments.
History: The concept of shared storage has evolved since the early network systems in the 1980s, where hard drives were connected through local networks. With the advancement of virtualization in the 2000s, technologies like SAN and NAS began to gain popularity, allowing multiple servers to access the same storage resource. The introduction of cloud storage solutions has taken shared storage to a new level, enabling data access from anywhere at any time.
Uses: Shared storage is primarily used in virtualization environments where multiple virtual machines need to access the same data. It is also common in enterprise applications that require high availability and redundancy, such as databases and content management systems. Additionally, it is used in supercomputers for parallel processing of large volumes of data, allowing multiple nodes to work together efficiently.
Examples: Examples of shared storage include SAN and NAS solutions, Azure Blob Storage for cloud applications, and distributed solutions like Ceph. In supercomputing environments, systems like Lustre and GPFS are used to provide shared storage to multiple nodes, optimizing performance and efficiency in data processing.
