Storage virtualization continues to be an important topic because it addresses a number of significant challenges. Storage vendors, the media and other sources expound on virtualization's merits in ways that might lead one to conclude that the term has a single, agreed-upon meaning and value--that perhaps one size fits all.

Indeed, the range of storage virtualization technologies and solutions has continued to evolve as storage hardware, the software that powers them, and external storage management applications have matured. This can often create confusion. Thus, vendor virtualization approaches and strategy are important.

Today, storage managers need to balance the benefits of virtualization against the complexity it brings. Becoming savvy with this technology doesn't have to be intimidating or overwhelming. This expert Podcast with Curtis Preston highlights tips to follow when getting involved in a storage virtualization project.