Direct LUN Access

How can a virtual server overcome performance limitations imposed by emulated file-based storage?

Problem

LUNs mapped via a host bus adapter on the hypervisor can restrict data access to emulated file-based storage, which can impose performance limitations.

Solution

The virtual server is granted direct access to block-based storage LUNs via the physical host bust adapter card.

Application

Raw device mapping technology is used to configure the hypervisor to enable access to raw, block-based LUNs to virtual server.

Mechanisms

Cloud Storage Device, Cloud Usage Monitor, Hypervisor, Pay-Per-Use Monitor, Resource Replication, Virtual Infrastructure Manager, Virtual Server

Compound Patterns

Burst In, Burst Out to Private Cloud, Burst Out to Public Cloud, Cloud Authentication, Cloud Balancing, Elastic Environment, Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Isolated Trust Boundary, Multitenant Environment, Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), Private Cloud, Public Cloud, Resilient Environment, Resource Workload Management, Secure Burst Out to Private Cloud/Public Cloud, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)

A cloud architecture in which virtual servers are given direct access to block-based storage LUNs (Part I).

A cloud architecture in which virtual servers are given direct access to block-based storage LUNs (Part II).

NIST Reference Architecture Mapping

This pattern relates to the highlighted parts of the NIST reference architecture, as follows: