IBM claims its new software defined storage systems could decimate data center costs by removing all the boundaries and blockages. 

According to IBM, its new Elastic Storage gives users access to any type of data, on any type of storage device, anywhere in the world.

Potentially 90% of storage costs could be saved by improving the liquidity of data across storage systems, said IBM, whose systems will automatically move data onto the most economical storage device.

IBM Research Labs said it has worked to develop a way to rationalize the various data forms with the diversity of devices, sensors, business processes and social networks.

Elastic Storage builds on IBM’s global file system and virtualizes storage so that multiple systems and applications can share common pools of storage with universal access without any need to modify applications or add storage management. This autonomy of data means that it is continuously available.

Elastic Storage also exploits server-side Flash to create a six-fold increase in performance on that of standard SAS disks, by automatically using Flash as cache memory when it is available.

IBM Research claims Elastic Storage can scan ten  billion files on a single cluster in 43 minutes. 

Elastic Storage was built on the foundations of IBM’s Watson computing system, which was used to compete in the US game show Jeopardy.

The lessons learned in creating a system to scan 200 million pages of structured and unstructured data, including the full text of Wikipedia, have proved a useful exercise, according to the senior VP of IBM Systems and Technology Group, Tom Rosamilia.

“Our technology offers the advances in speed, scalability and cost savings that clients need to operate in a world where data is the basis of competitive advantage,” said Rosamilia, who described Elastic Storage as ‘a game changer’.