VAST Data Ltd. has introduced new functionalities aimed at fulfilling its ambition of establishing a unified data platform tailored for the AI age.
New Capabilities of the VAST Data Platform
Scheduled for release next month, the company has integrated block storage capabilities, finalizing the vision for the VAST DataStore as a comprehensive multiprotocol storage solution.
The VAST Data Platform integrates storage, databases, and virtualized compute engine services into one unified AI operating system. It stands as the sole exascale solution available that offers linear scaling of parallel data access performance across various data types—file, object, block, table, and streaming data—catering to all data workloads. By consolidating all data into a single architecture, businesses can effectively manage all workloads without compromising on performance, scalability, or economic efficiency, thus enhancing their ability to achieve real-time insights and foster seamless AI integration.
Gartner states, “Multiprotocol storage platforms are designed to support various storage access protocols and to address the increasing needs of businesses. These platforms offer versatility, enabling data to be stored and accessed using diverse protocols such as NFS, SMB, block, and object, ensuring seamless integration within varied IT ecosystems. This flexibility allows the storage system to meet the different requirements of applications and users with varying protocol preferences or compatibility needs.” (1)
By incorporating block storage, VAST Data has revolutionized data management for large enterprises, merging previously isolated infrastructures into one platform equipped with a comprehensive array of enterprise data services, including snapshots, multi-tenancy, quality of service (QoS), encryption, and meticulous Role-Based Access Control (RBAC).
Enhanced Features for Modern Enterprise IT:
- Seamless Integration with Virtualization Platforms: The VAST Data Platform now offers substantial support for virtualization environments, including VMware, Hyper-V, and other hypervisors. Features like multi-tenancy and QoS enable IT departments to isolate workloads effectively, ensure optimum performance, and streamline resource management across an extensive range of virtual machines.
- Optimized for Kubernetes and Container Applications: For teams utilizing Kubernetes, OpenShift, or other container management systems, the addition of block storage provides persistent storage solutions for container workloads. This allows for effective implementation of transactional databases and stateful microservices, delivering the scalability and performance needed for DevOps operations and production-level applications.
- Unified Infrastructure for Hybrid Workloads: In contemporary enterprise landscapes, a mix of virtualized and containerized workloads often coexists, leading to difficulties in managing disparate storage solutions. The VAST Data Platform addresses this by integrating both workload types into a unified storage architecture, thereby reducing operational complexity and enhancing provisioning efficiency.
- Boot from SAN for Simplified Management and Enhanced Availability: By supporting Boot from SAN, businesses can optimize server deployment and management, reducing reliance on local disks, which improves disaster recovery capabilities, boosts redundancy, and facilitates rapid provisioning of new virtual or bare-metal servers while ensuring consistent performance throughout the IT infrastructure.
Our goal for the VAST Data Platform has always been to empower organizations to process and react to data in real-time, allowing them to scale effortlessly, trim infrastructure costs, and innovate rapidly by consolidating AI data infrastructure on a single, robust platform,” stated Aaron Chaisson, VP of product and solutions marketing at VAST Data. “With this announcement, we are removing the data silos that previously limited AI and analytics efforts, enabling our customers to make quicker, more precise decisions, thus driving data-driven growth..
(1) Gartner, Stop Buying Storage, Embrace Platforms Instead, Julia Palmer, Jeff Vogel, Chandra Mukhyala, January 15, 2025.
Additional Resources:
Blog: The Latest VAST Release is All About the Protocols, by Howard Marks
Video demonstration: VAST Data Block Support
