Reducing power consumption is one of the most significant challenges of IT centers today.

The statistics are staggering. Reports show that, in 2006, U.S. data centers were responsible for 1.5% of the nation’s power consumption. Companies are reporting 10-20% annual growth in their power usage - and the numbers are growing. By the end of 2008, storage equipment is expected to lead as the biggest power consumer in data centers, surpassing servers.

With storage needs on a steep rise, it is increasingly clear that new approaches must be explored. Simply putting in more and more machines of the same kind is nearing the point of diminishing returns, with the new requirements for power, cooling, and space exceeding what these systems can provide.