Adding a new NAS box or connecting another disk array has become so easy that storage sprawl has become a problem for many organizations. Storage administrators are fighting back by consolidating storage hardware in order to simplify their storage environments. Storage consolidation offers significant benefits. Having fewer storage systems reduces demand for power. Fewer systems are also easier to manage because storage is centralized and fewer management tools are needed.

However, storage consolidation isn't simply a matter of buying new hardware during a technology refresh. Successful consolidation strategies require an evaluation of the performance and management needs of current storage platforms, as well as a nod toward business objectives.

This guide offers advice for purchasing products related to typical storage consolidation initiatives. Each chapter offers a set of buying points and product specifications that can help readers identify prospective consolidation products in NAS, disk arrays, data migration software and virtualization software.