Which feature does the Virtual Data Optimizer (VDO) driver provide in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 for storage devices?

The Virtual Data Optimizer (VDO) driver in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 provides the capability of both compression and deduplication for storage devices.

Compression allows for the reduction of the physical size of the data stored, which not only saves disk space but can also lead to performance benefits in terms of I/O operations—especially when dealing with large files or datasets. Deduplication, on the other hand, identifies and eliminates duplicate copies of data. This further optimizes storage efficiency by ensuring that identical data blocks are stored only once, thus minimizing the amount of space required.

Together, these features make VDO a powerful tool for managing storage resources efficiently, particularly in environments where storage costs are a significant concern or where maximizing the utilization of available storage is critical. The combination of compression and deduplication enhances the overall performance and efficiency of storage systems in enterprise settings.