Is it time to replace ageing IBM Storage Systems?

Many customers still maintain older SAN storage infrastructure for several reasons, including that it continues to perform and remains practical. Replacing IBM Storage can appear complicated, time-consuming, and resource-intensive, and most IT managers lack the resources for such an upgrade.

However, by addressing modern IBM storage solutions’ cost, efficiency, and advanced capabilities – while leaning on the migration and integration skills of advanced IBM Business Partners like Covenco – businesses can make informed decisions that enhance their overall performance and security while significantly reducing OPEX costs.

Legacy IBM Storage: A Reliable History
IBM has long been a leader in storage solutions, consistently delivering dependable and innovative products. For example, the IBM DS4000 series, launched in 2001, was robust and reliable but lacked modern storage systems’ advanced features and capabilities.

The Game-Changer: IBM Storwize V7000
In 2010, IBM introduced the Storwize V7000 SAN controller, a revolutionary mid-range storage solution with features including storage virtualisation, real-time compression (reducing physical storage needs by up to 80%), automatic storage tiering, and SSD support features previously only available in IBM’s enterprise-class offerings.

The Storwize V7000 allowed integration with non-IBM SAN storage, enhancing flexibility and management capabilities for diverse storage environments.

Despite its age, many organisations still rely on V7000 systems due to their performance and reliability.

Challenges of Maintaining Old Systems
Maintaining older systems comes with significant costs. SSD drives remain expensive to buy and maintain under IBM or 3rd Party maintenance agreements, and ongoing Software Maintenance and Subscription Agreements (SWMA) for features like replication and compression only add to the financial burden. These costs can escalate, especially if you have multiple expansion enclosures.

Why NOW is the best time upgrade
IBM Storage Systems Technology has advanced dramatically since the launch of the original IBM Storwize V7000. Modern IBM storage solutions offer superior performance, scalability, and crucial cybersecurity features. Additionally, IBM’s FlashCore Modules now have in-built hardware to provide immutable and isolated hidden, non-addressable, and unalterable copies, providing robust protection against cyber-attacks.

From a capacity perspective, a single FlashCore Module can now store up to 116TB of data on a single drive, allowing for an impressive 1.2PB of storage in just 1U of rack space. Performance-wise, an IBM FS7300 all-flash system can achieve up to 3.5 million IOPS – more than sufficient for today’s data-intensive database and AI platforms.

Listen to what Steve Hollingsworth, Sales Director at Covenco, has to say about the latest Flash Core Module (FCM4):

Traditional data storage solutions, while offering a baseline level of protection, are often ill-equipped to handle cybercriminals’ ever-evolving tactics. This is where IBM FlashSystem, with the latest generation FlashCore Module (FCM4), steps in, offering a revolutionary approach to data security that leverages the power of advanced machine learning.

Cost and Efficiency Considerations
When evaluating a new SAN purchase, the following factors are typically considered:

• Upfront cost
• Ongoing maintenance and support
• Rack space requirements (critical in co-location environments)
• Data migration costs
• Staff training needs (if changing vendors)

Additionally, it’s essential to factor in the savings you can achieve from decommissioning old systems:

• Reduced hardware maintenance costs
• Lower software maintenance and support fees
• Decreased rack space usage

For example, a new IBM FlashSystem FS 5300 with over 100TB of usable storage, including 3 years of 24×7 hardware support, IBM Support Line, and IBM Spectrum Control software will set you back just over £30k.

In many cases, this cost is less than the three-year hardware maintenance and SWMA costs for existing systems without factoring in the additional savings you will get from the reduced co-lo rack space requirements and vastly lower power consumption rates.

IBM Safeguarded Copy – a Lifeline in the event of disasters
For even greater resiliency in new IBM FlashSystems, IBM’s Safeguarded Copy function supports creating cyber-resilient point-in-time copies of volumes that cannot be changed or deleted through user errors, malicious actions, or ransomware attacks. SGC is a fantastic starting point, and there’s more to consider for a genuinely robust disaster recovery plan. Covenco’s expertise can help you maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of any SGC implementation.  For a detailed demonstration of where Covenco sets up and runs SGC in real-time, watch our on-demand webinar here.

Hear what Steve Hollingsworth, Sales Director at Covenco, has to say about IBM’s SGC:

Isn’t Migrating Data across IBM Storage Sytems Complicated?
Replacing older storage solutions with new ones is often perceived as complicated and time-consuming. However, is this really the case?

For customers who primarily use their storage for VMware environments, tools like Storage vMotion make migrating VMs to new storage arrays straightforward, with minimal downtime. IBM’s range of SANs supports storage virtualisation, which only requires installing a new SAN controller in front of the existing SAN storage array. Data can then be migrated to the new storage in the background. Once this process is complete, the old storage can either be decommissioned or reconfigured as an archive storage solution.

With today’s tools and technology, migrating data from old storage arrays to new hardware is a simple and minimally disruptive process. Additionally, specialist IBM Business Partners such as Covenco will often take care of the migration for you as a part of their supply and configuration agreement.

For an example of a data migration project, download our recent NHS case study: A High-Stakes Data Centre Migration for the Northern Care Alliance NHS trust.

Next Steps
If you’re considering upgrading your storage infrastructure, now is the perfect time to explore IBM’s latest solutions.

For a detailed discussion of your storage needs, don’t hesitate to contact your designated Covenco specialist or speak with Simon Gooding at Covenco directly.