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Hybrid Storage Hype: Page 2 of 6

OK, let's get serious. Real examples of hybrid storage include integrated SAN and NAS (without a gateway or creative physical packaging). Hybrid storage has also been used to describe easy-to-use easy-to-install systems with simplified licensing or some type of management function not normally associated with a particular class of storage.

For instance, there are the storage systems that can handle multiple protocols and interfaces, including iSCSI, Fibre Channel, and NAS in one unit. Examples of these kinds of multifunction systems include Dell PowerVault NX1950, HP StorageWorks All-in-One, and NetApp StoreVault – as well as NAS systems that support iSCSI, like those from BlueArc, EMC, NetApp, and others.

There also are plenty of hybrid SME and enterprise scenarios centered on NAS or NAS gateways. Multi-vendor hybrid SAN/NAS storage solutions include those from HP+PolyServe, HDS+BlueArc, BlueArc+Engenio, ONStor+DotHill, NetApp+IBM, NetApp+HDS (and others), ONStor+3PAR, and many others.

Next Page: Driving Hybrid

Then there's one of my favorites: the all-too-descriptive hybrid disk drives. In this category are the infamous and elusive iSCSI disk drive, the hybrid solid state disk (SSD), and disk drives packaged in removable media that look like tape cartridges – to name just a few.