DMF creates a virtualized storage pool across Fibre Channel and SAS RAID, SATA RAID, and tape presenting a single view of data to applications and users. DMF continuously monitors and automatically moves data among storage devices with different performance and price characteristics. More expensive, faster storage can be augmented with less expensive storage like tape cheaper nearline disk or MAID, lowering costs versus an all-high performance RAID environment. It is not unusual for a DMF environment to save 60 to 90% on storage and storage management costs.