Cutting backup time by half
Cutting backup time by half
StorageTek and Innovation Data Processing have integrated StorageTek's Extended High Performance Data Mover (ExHPDM) and Innovation's Fast Dump Restore (FDR) software, to cut disk-to-tape backup time by up to 50 per cent.
Traditionally, when backing up data from disk to tape for archiving and disaster recovery, each disk is assigned its own tape cartridge. In this one-to-one relationship, tape devices may not be fully used because the cartridges can accept output from only one corresponding disk at a time.
ExHPDM software and FDR eliminate this shortfall by allowing a single tape cartridge to accept output concurrently from more than one disk.
Data from multiple disk backups is dynamically interwoven on the MVS host and written to tape in 256Kb superblocks. By combining multiple backup streams for storage on a single tape drive, ExHPDM allows the simultaneous backup of multiple disks using fewer tape drives. The integrated solution also allows users to choose a balance between reducing the time spent backing up disks and cutting the cost of backup hardware.
In related news, StorageTek, Advanced Technology and Systems, and Electronics Corporation have demonstrated the next evolutionary step in Storage Area Networks (SANs) by backing up data between two SANs over an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network.
By connecting SANs to ATM networks, users will be able to overcome the 10km fibre channel distance limitation, connecting remote sites for disaster recovery and backup applications over public networks.
ATM-based networks are already in place in many countries supporting low-speed communications, such as voice and high-speed data communications. To date, however, ATM-based wide area networks (WANs) have not supported open systems SAN traffic because of differences between ATM and Fibre Channel storage networking protocols. In addition, most telecommunications providers do not supply dedicated (dark) fibre network service for directly connecting distant corporate SAN sites.