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All Flash Arrays: Can’t I Just Stick Some SSDs In My Disk Array?

In the previous post of this series I outlined three basic categories of All Flash Array (AFA): the hybrid AFA, the SSD-based AFA and the ground-up AFA. This post addresses the first one and is therefore aimed at answering one of the questions I hear most often: why can't I just stick a bunch of SSDs … Continue reading All Flash Arrays: Can’t I Just Stick Some SSDs In My Disk Array? →

Oracle’s ASM Filter Driver Revisited

Almost exactly a year ago I published a post covering my first impressions of the ASM Filter Driver (ASMFD) released in Oracle 12.1.0.2, followed swiftly by a second post showing that it didn't work with 4k native devices. When I wrote that first post I was about to start my summer holidays, so I'm afraid … Continue reading Oracle’s ASM Filter Driver Revisited →

All Flash Arrays: What Is An AFA?

All Flash Arrays - Hybrid, SSD-based or Ground-Up

For the last couple of years I've been writing a series of blog posts introducing the concepts of flash-memory and solid state storage to those who aren't part of the storage industry. I've covered storage fundamentals, some of what I consider to be the enduring myths of storage, a section of unashamed disk-bashing and then … Continue reading All Flash Arrays: What Is An AFA? →

Was I Mentioned During Oracle’s Q4 2015 Results Call?

In a proud moment for me, it appears that Mark Hurd, CEO of Oracle, has mentioned my flashdba blog during the Oracle Q4 2015 results call. At least, that's what I'm reading into this section from the transcript published by Seeking Alpha: We grew in storage in the quarter and this is -- really we are … Continue reading Was I Mentioned During Oracle’s Q4 2015 Results Call? →

The Great Hypervisor Bake-off: VMware ESX vs Oracle VM

This is a very simple post to show the results of some recent testing that Tom and I ran using Oracle SLOB on Violin to determine the impact of using virtualization. But before we get to that, I am duty bound to write a paragraph of text featuring lots of long sentences peppered with industry buzz … Continue reading The Great Hypervisor Bake-off: VMware ESX vs Oracle VM →

ASM Rebalance Too Slow? 3 Tips To Improve Rebalance Times

I've run into a few customers recently who have had problems with their ASM rebalance operations running too slowly. Surprisingly, there were some simple concepts being overlooked - and once these were understood, the rebalance times were dramatically improved. For that reason, I'm documenting the solutions here... I hope that somebody, somewhere benefits... 1. Don't … Continue reading ASM Rebalance Too Slow? 3 Tips To Improve Rebalance Times →

Implementing Linux native multipathing or DM-MPIO together with EMC PowerPath

Guest Post I'm delighted to say that this is another guest post from my good friend Nate Fuzi, who performs the same role as me for Violin but is based in the US instead of EMEA. Because he is American, Nate thinks that scones are called "biscuits", that chips are called "fries" and that there is … Continue reading Implementing Linux native multipathing or DM-MPIO together with EMC PowerPath →

Paris Oracle Meetup (Jeudi 26 Mars 2015 @ 7pm)

A quick post to say that this week, on Thursday 26th, I will be giving a talk (in English!) on the subject of Flash for DBAs (and architects, designers, developers, managers etc) at the Paris Oracle Meetup: Flash for DBAs: A new technology is sweeping the world of storage. Flash, a type of non-volatile memory, is … Continue reading Paris Oracle Meetup (Jeudi 26 Mars 2015 @ 7pm) →

Postcards from Storageland: Three Years At Violin

A few weeks ago, in what seems to be a truly modern phenomenon, I became aware that it was my third anniversary of joining Violin after I noticed a number of people congratulating me on LinkedIn. In many ways it feels like I've already been here for a lifetime, but it was only twelve months ago … Continue reading Postcards from Storageland: Three Years At Violin →