In recent years, traditional storage systems have been challenged by alternate approaches to building storage arrays. Those traditional systems typically package storage controllers, disks, interfaces and firmware into a proprietary array whose components and inner workings are esoteric and usually only privy to the array vendor. Because those systems are costly, complex and lack openness, alternatives have emerged that have gained the attention of some storage shops.
A changing computing landscape that increasingly favors mobile and cloud computing has also been an impetus for more open and cost-effective storage platforms to surface.
