June 14, 2018 (last updated July 25, 2018) by Siobhan Climer
HPE Nimble Storage Adaptive Flash Array (AFA) puts backup and copy data management front and center in the storage conversation. The HPE Nimble Storage AFA leverages the backups you are already storing to perform QA, analytics, and development/testing. The focus on capacity, flash, disk, and IOPS means both capacity and performance enable extended offerings that increase workload possibilities. Basically, you can store more and do more with it.
We’ll examine the specs, dive into the increased capabilities, and consider how HPE Nimble Storage Adaptive Flash Array, when implemented strategically, integrates disaster recovery, backup, and secondary storage workloads in one device.
HPE Nimble Storage Adaptive Flash Array (AFA) Overview
The HPE Nimble Storage Predictive Cloud Platform is an attempt to solve the app-data gap. Diving deep into the challenges with backups and secondary storage, Nimble identifies the struggles you are likely facing with your secondary storage tools:
- Slow backups
- Slow restores
- Wasted data backup utilization
- Lack of expertise
- Lack of data center space
- Growing maintenance expenses
Backups are not just meant to sit and wait for a disaster. Your backups are copies of your most valuable information, and that data can be used to perform analytics and support business strategy. HPE Nimble Storage AFAs put the data to work. When you get more value from your backups – through development and testing, QA, reporting, analytics, etc. – you meet the emerging needs of your business. Since it combines flash performance with built-in inline variable block deduplication and compression, you get more use from the device capacity.
The array is optimized for data protection and secondary storage workloads. AFA’s flash-enabled architecture delivers fast flash backup and restores – up to 65% faster than previous HPE Nimble Storage Adaptive arrays. This speed translates to testing and verification, which is vital to any successful disaster recovery plan.
If you haven’t already, be sure to create a data backup policy for your disaster recovery plan. You can use the Mindsight data backup policy template or create your own. Just be sure to clearly state who is responsible for what and identify the backup schedule; policies for security, access, and transportation; testing and verification schedule; and data recovery and restoration request procedures.
As a data lifecycle management tool, the HPE Nimble Storage Adaptive Flash Array series provides an easy path to cloud archival processes. Accessing, copying, restoring, and utilizing your information – access files, applications, entire systems – is quick and easy. Better yet, there is no compromise in performance.
Adaptive Flash Array Is Secondary Flash Array & Hybrid Flash
Check out the full data sheet from HPE Nimble Storage.
The HPE Nimble Storage AFA performs predictive analysis, too, finding and resolving 86% of issues before you even know they’re there. It is cost-effective way to store your primary, secondary, and backup workloads. You’ll be ready for whatever disaster strikes next.
Want to see how HPE Nimble Adaptive Flash Array might work for you? Mindsight solution architects can provide a live simulation of the AFA for your organization. Contact us to schedule your demo today.
Put Your Data To Work: Key HPE Nimble Storage AFA Difference
The HPE Nimble Storage Adaptive Flash Array claims it can “put your backup data to work.” What exactly does that mean?
The key to HPE Nimble’s success with AFA is that it puts Flash into your backup target. This enables additional functionality by combining arrays with data protection software. It simplifies data management, offers a validated design, and works with both Nimble primary or non-Nimble primary storage. HPE Nimble Storage AFA has deep integration with VMware, Microsoft, Oracle, Veeam, and others.
- Optimized for Performance and Capacity
Flash-enabled architecture brings peace of mind with disaster recovery and backups. AFA delivers fast restores, tests, and verifications of backups. Plus, inline deduplication reduces data by a factor of up to 8:1. That means your data costs less to store, and you can use it more effectively to manage storage and recovery.
- Live Mount Production Workloads
You can run workloads at full speed on the AFA and restore in parallel. Eliminating backup and restore windows is a huge benefit of Nimble’s AFA.
- Storage Agnostic
Whatever primary storage array you use, HPE Nimble Storage Adaptive Flash Array models can integrate as a backup target. If you already use Nimble storage, the Nimble-to-Nimble backup uses a multicloud flash fabric to “scale to thousands of instant, zero-impact snapshot backups.”
- One Device
Backups, disaster recovery, and secondary storage converge in the AFA, enabling you to use a single device to both support data protection and perform analytics, development and testing, reporting, and QA.
Secondary storage is how agile businesses leverage their older backups to help build business strategy. HPE Nimble Storage Adaptive Flash Array models continue to disrupt the industry, providing fast flash storage options that offer a unique combination of capacity and performance.
Mindsight’s expert team of engineers and solutions’ architects are ready to help you implement HPE Nimble’s AFA models into your current backup plan. Great technology is only as good as your plan. Mindsight’s team works with yours to develop a roadmap that integrates your disaster recovery and backup plan.
*This post has been updated (July 13, 2018) to reflect the updated HPE Nimble SFA data sheet and linked webpage.
**This post has been updated (July 25, 2018) to reflect the discontinuation of HPE Nimble SFA and its embedding under the HPE Nimble Adaptive Flash Array model, which can be used as either secondary or hybrid flash storage.
Contact us today to discuss how to leverage HPE Nimble AFA for your business.
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About The Author
Siobhan Climer, Science and Technology Writer for Mindsight, writes about technology trends in education, healthcare, and business. She previously taught STEM programs in elementary classrooms and museums, and writes extensively about cybersecurity, disaster recovery, cloud services, backups, data storage, network infrastructure, and the contact center. When she’s not writing tech, she’s writing fantasy, gardening, and exploring the world with her twin two-year old daughters. Find her on twitter @techtalksio.
