1.2 Benefits of using IBM Spectrum Virtualize  1.3 Latest changes and enhancements The storage virtualization functions of IBM Spectrum Virtualize are a powerful tool in the  hands of storage administrators. However, in order for an organization to fully realize the  benefits of storage virtualization, its implementation must be the end result of a process that  begins with the identification of the organization’s goals. For a storage virtualization project to  be a success, the organization must identify  what  it wants to achieve before it starts to think  about  how  to implement the solution. Today, organizations are searching for affordable and efficient ways to store, use, protect, and  manage their data. Additionally, a storage environment is required to have an easy to manage  interface and be sufficiently flexible to support a wide range of applications, servers, and  mobility requirements. Business demands change quickly; however, there are some recurring  client concerns that drive adoption of storage virtualization: The importance of addressing the complexity of managing storage networks is clearly visible  in the results of industry analyses of the total cost of ownership (TCO) of storage networks.  Typically, storage costs are only about 20% of the TCO. Most of the remaining costs relate to  managing storage systems. In a non-virtualized storage environment, every system is an “island” that must be managed  separately. In large SAN environments, challenges include the sheer number of separate and  different management interfaces, and the lack of a unified view of the whole environment.  These challenges jeopardize an organization’s ability to  manage their storage as a single  entity, and to maintain the current view of the system state. IBM SAN Volume Controller, running IBM Spectrum Virtualize software, reduces the number  of separate environments that must be managed down to a single system. After the initial  configuration of the back-end storage subsystems, all of the day-to-day storage management  operations are performed via a single graphical user interface (GUI). At the same time,  administrators gain access to the rich functionality set provided by IBM Spectrum Virtualize,  whether or not particular features are natively available on the virtualized storage systems.  IBM Spectrum Virtualize V8.2.1 is another step in the product line development that brings  new features and enhancements. This section lists the major software changes in subsequent  code releases. V8.2.1 of the IBM Spectrum Virtualize code brought the following changes: Chapter 1. Introduction to storage virtualization  5 GLYPH<SM590000> Full IP-based quorum: Support for administrators looking to consolidate their infrastructure  over Ethernet. GLYPH<SM590000> Support for iSCSI extensions over RDMA (iSER) host attach enhancements. GLYPH<SM590000> Support for host login information for Ethernet-attached hosts. GLYPH<SM590000> Growing data center costs GLYPH<SM590000> Inability of IT organizations to respond quickly to business demands GLYPH<SM590000> Poor asset usage GLYPH<SM590000> Poor availability and resultant unsatisfactory (for the clients) or challenging (for the  providers) service levels GLYPH<SM590000> Lack of skilled staff for storage administration