Key Criteria for Evaluating Scale-Out File Storage Solutionsv4.0

1. Summary

File storage systems remain one of the most popular ways to store data, both on-premises and in the cloud. Scale-out file storage is becoming the default choice for most organizations because it can be quickly expanded to increase throughput. There are other reasons for the success of scale-out file storage:

• File systems, often accessed via network protocols like network file system (NFS) and server message block (SMB), are the data storage system of choice for a large number of workloads, including big data analytics, AI/ML, high-performance computing (HPC), generative AI, and more. Object storage, although very popular, isn’t overshadowing file systems yet.
• Modern file systems are much more scalable than in the past, and they provide a familiar user interface and authentication methods along with excellent performance.
• Legacy applications continue to drive the demand for file storage. Such applications were usually written to work with POSIX-compliant file systems, and the cost of refactoring them to work with object storage likely outweighs the benefit, thus making file storage a preferred option.
• Modern scale-out solutions are mature and flexible, with most of the complexity now hidden behind the scenes. In the end, managing a single large scale-out system is less time consuming than managing several scale-up systems.
• Solutions that support data mobility across different environments are becoming increasingly important for executing properly on hybrid IT strategies, and scale-out file storage systems are easy to implement on cloud virtual machine (VM) instances. GigaOm recently published a Key Criteria report about cloud file storage highlighting the growing demand for sophisticated file services both on-premises and in the cloud.

With unstructured data accounting for up to 90% of what is stored in enterprise infrastructures, storage that is scalable and fast enough to manage interactive workloads is crucial for responding adequately to business needs.

That said, enterprises don’t want to get that scalability and performance at the expense of the data services and flexibility they usually get from traditional scale-up network attached storage (NAS) solutions. This is why scale-out storage systems are much more balanced than in the past and try to meet enterprise requirements like scalability, flexibility, efficiency, and performance.

Nevertheless, organizations are becoming much more sensitive to the efficiency argument due to the steep increase in energy costs in some regions of the world. But efficiency isn’t limited to energy consumption. Carbon footprint moderation and overall sustainability are gaining traction on a voluntary basis through environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) policies that can act as a virtuous differentiator for organizations and vendors alike. Furthermore, it is expected that regulations will soon make those criteria mandatory, impacting the technology selection and decision-making process.

Still, the multiple benefits that scale-out file systems provide, combined with their popularity, mean their adoption will continue to grow.

This is the fourth year that GigaOm has reported on the scale-out file storage space in the context of our Key Criteria and Radar reports. This report builds on our previous analysis and considers how the market has evolved over the last year.

This GigaOm Key Criteria report details the capabilities (table stakes, key criteria, and emerging technologies) and non-functional requirements (evaluation metrics) for selecting an effective scale-out file storage solution. The companion GigaOm Radar report identifies vendors and products that excel in those capabilities and metrics. Together, these reports provide an overview of the category and its underlying technology, identify leading scale-out file storage offerings, and help decision-makers evaluate these solutions so they can make a more informed investment decision.