The same kinds of technology advancements that are driving the flash storage revolution are also quietly driving significant changes in the ways that computer system memory is implemented and used as persistent storage. It is now economically feasible to run an entire database, for example, in server memory, which is a significant technological advancement that promises to alter the way computing systems are designed and implemented, which is now known as in-memory computing.
SAP follows this trend with the introduction of HANA, an in-memory data platform and its S/4HANA business suite built on HANA technology.
This paper reviews some of the critical considerations for choosing the infrastructure supporting SAP HANA, while focusing on storage as a key component. NetApp's storage solutions are highlighted to offer real-world examples of how storage plays a key role in these considerations.
