472 Implementing the IBM Storwize V5000 Gen2 with IBM Spectrum Virtualize V8.1
9.4 Real-time Compression software
The IBM Real-time Compression software that is embedded in IBM Spectrum Virtualize
addresses the requirements for primary storage data reduction, including performance. It
does so by using a purpose-built technology, called
Real-time Compression, that uses the
Random Access Compression Engine (RACE). It offers the following benefits:
Compression for active primary data
IBM Real-time Compression can be used with active primary data. Therefore, it supports
workloads that are not candidates for compression in other solutions. The solution
supports online compression of existing data. Storage administrators can regain free disk
space in an existing storage system without requiring users to clean up or archive data.
This configuration significantly enhances the value of existing storage assets and the
benefits to the business are immediate. The capital expense of upgrading or expanding
the storage system is delayed.
Compression for replicated or mirrored data
Remote volume copies can be compressed, in addition to the volumes at the primary
storage tier. This process reduces storage requirements in Metro Mirror and Global Mirror
destination volumes as well.
No changes to the existing environment are required
IBM Real-time Compression is part of the storage system. It was designed to be
implemented without changes to applications, hosts, networks, fabrics, or external storage
systems. The solution is not apparent to hosts, so users and applications continue to work
non-disruptively.
Overall savings in operational expenses
More data is stored in a rack space, so fewer storage expansion enclosures are required
to store a data set. A reduced rack space has the following benefits:
– Reduced power and cooling requirements. More data is stored in a system, which
requires less power and cooling per gigabyte or used capacity.
– Reduced software licensing for more functions in the system. More data that is stored
per enclosure reduces the overall spending on licensing.
Disk space savings are immediate
The space reduction occurs when the host writes the data. This process is unlike other
compression solutions in which some or all of the reduction is performed only after running a
post-process compression batch job.
9.4.1 Common use cases
This section addresses the most common use cases for implementing compression:
General-purpose volumes
Databases
Virtualized infrastructures
Log server data stores
For additional information on how to estimate compression ratios for each of the listed items,
see 9.4.9, “Comprestimator” on page 483.
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