Optimized Storage for Virtualized Environments. When EMC’s IT efficiency efforts began, the majority of online IT assets resided on high-end EMC Symmetrix storage arrays (tier-1), with the balance on modular EMC CLARiiON arrays (tier-2). To reduce costs and extend the life of the existing data centers, EMC expanded their tiered structure. More cost-effective, large-capacity drives within Symmetrix and CLARiiON storage arrays were introduced over time to create online storage tiers 3 and 4, and tier-5 CLARiiON Disk Library (CDL) capacity was added for disk-based backups. Moving to a tiered storage infrastructure has dramatically reduced the power consumption—and cost—of delivering.
