Next-generation SAN operations in Data Infrastructure Insights

At NetApp INSIGHT® on September 24, the latest capabilities in Data Infrastructure Insights (formerly Cloud Insights) were announced that will simplify the complexities of managing block workloads in large SAN environments. By focusing on delivering relevant, actionable insight for managing workloads end to end, rather than overwhelming users with data, these features bring greater clarity and control to IT teams.  

This blog post describes how the key features announced at the conference can be valuable for technical teams that are managing block workloads. 

One of the challenges in managing IT infrastructure is understanding how various components interact with each other. The new SAN Analyzer in Data Infrastructure Insights (DII) automatically generates an end-to-end topology of block workloads based on its understanding of infrastructure relationships and data paths. This capability allows a clearer view of how different parts of the system are connected and can help in identifying where bottlenecks or contention might occur. With this level of detail, IT teams can more easily diagnose and resolve performance issues. 

In contrast to other tools that cause information overload by showing the entire infrastructure footprint, SAN Analyzer offers focused visibility. It shows the infrastructure related to a specific workload or application and its data path in a simplified view. This approach enables a more efficient troubleshooting process, because IT professionals can concentrate on the data that matters most for the task at hand without the distraction of irrelevant information. 

Infrastructure doesn’t generally fail on its own; up to 85% of issues in IT today are caused by something changing. Changes to IT infrastructure can have unintended consequences, and tracking these changes is often a complex task. The new change analysis capability in DII simplifies troubleshooting by keeping track of changes through monitoring configuration and events and correlating them to alerts and issues. This capability gives a clear view of cause and effect so that when issues arise, teams can quickly pinpoint any changes, intended or otherwise, that led to the issue. 

The technical benefits of advanced observability tools are clear, and they also have a significant positive impact on business operations. By reducing downtime and streamlining the resolution of IT issues, DII contributes to improved operational efficiency. The ability to quickly address problems means less disruption to business processes and a better experience for end users.   

For SMEs and IT generalists alike, GigaOm sums up the key benefits for operations in this CxO Decision Brief: 

 “NetApp Data Infrastructure Insights offers a comprehensive solution that addresses these challenges effectively. It provides end-to-end visibility and manageability, enabling IT generalists to handle complex tasks efficiently and allowing SMEs to focus on strategic initiatives.”  

Technical specialists experience less toil and reduced noise, and they gain an improved ability to focus on the project work that’s most interesting. 

To see these features in action, check out the video and gain a better understanding of how this IT observability tool can enhance your approach to managing and solving infrastructure issues.

These exciting new features will be rolling into the product over the coming weeks. Because it’s SaaS, existing users don’t need to upgrade or install anything new. If you want to know more, or see what DII is all about in your own environment, contact our specialist team to request a demo today.