IBM adds thin provisioning to high-end DS8000 storage array

IBM has now added thin provisioning to its high-end DS8000 storage array, as well as enhancing its XIV storage product. For those who do not know, thin provisioning involves telling an application that it has all of the storage capacity that it needs in the storage volume that has been assigned to it.

However, it will only assign the capacity that is needed to write data as well as a margin. One this capacity has been closed, more capacity is then assigned. This technique is great as it helps to reduce the total disk capacity.

This new thin provisioning is a feature that 3PAR, EMC, HDS, and HP have been using for a while now, but IBM’s SAN Volume Controller has been using the technique since June 2008. DS8000 customers will also be glad to learn that this provisioning has now become automated.

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