AT&T working on PoC for software-defined storage using SDN, NFV and cloud
AT&T is looking to take advantage of its push into network virtualization using software-defined networking, network functions virtualization and cloud to bolster storage opportunities.
The telecom giant said it has created a proof-of-concept technology called software-defined storage that it claims “creates a software layer on top of commercial disks to address enterprise cloud storage needs.”
In a blog post, Chris Rice, VP at AT&T Labs, said the PoC resulted in a “fully automated way to build customer storage plans,” that he added can be accomplished in minutes instead of the weeks it normally takes to engineer and deploy traditional storage solutions. The platform also allows enterprises to use a Web interface to “tweak the dials” on different parameters, including cost control, reliability and performance.
AT&T also said that the SDS platform can produce more efficient storage solutions, noting the use of erasure coding to create an algorithm designed to reduce storage needs with greater integrity than current triple redundancy solutions.
“Today we’re beta testing the SDS system internally,” Rice said. “Our goal is to prove out its effectiveness at scale and harden technologies with erasure coding for use across our data centers.”
Rice recently spoke with RCR Wireless News about the company’s recent advancement in telecom software development that was released into an Apache Incubator designed to allow network and IT system managers to install policies that automate access to certain systems and information. Rice also provided some insight into the importance and limitations of automation in managing telecom networks as well as how AT&T views the importance of its latest software push garnering Apache Project status.
AT&T’s work in the SDN space received significant attention late last year with the company stating plans to virtualize and control more than 75% of its network using software architecture by 2020.
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