Actnet announces Mainframe Data Library

Bus-Tech, Inc, a leading supplier of data centre connectivity products, announced the availability of the Mainframe Data Library, a revolutionary tape-on-disk control system for IBM-compatible mainframes.

Mainframe Data Library provides enterprise data centres with lower tape processing costs, improved end-user service levels, innovative disaster recovery alternatives, and the ability to include compliant storage in their mainframe environment.

"Mainframe tape libraries are still an integral component of a large enterprise's storage strategy, and providing a faster, more reliable disk-based solution for backup and disaster recovery should be well received in the marketplace," said Dianne McAdam, Director of Enterprise Information Assurance at the Clipper Group.

"The Mainframe Data Library provides these as well as helps manage the ever-growing volume of electronic content data companies are being regulated to maintain," adds Gavin Dunlop from Actnet.

Lower tape processing costs are achieved when application data is migrated off of virtual tape libraries, automated tape libraries (ATLs) or optical media libraries such as IBM 3995. Significant reduction in batch processing windows occurs by expediting media mount requests and eliminating manual or robotic media handling. Additionally, archive data retrieval applications such as Mobius ViewDirect, IBM ImagePlus and others offer substantial improvement in end-user service levels as MDL retrieves tape data at near DASD speeds.

Capitalising on the data mirroring capabilities of today's open-system storage, Mainframe Data Library provides innovative alternatives for implementing Disaster Recovery. MDL eliminates the need for tape duplexing and offsite shipping by using IP-based data replication over private or public wide area networks. And, when compared to current peer-to-peer tape data replication solutions, MDL and open-systems storage eliminate requirements for specialised channel extension equipment and provide concurrent data replication to multiple sites.

Mainframe Data Library supports compliant storage offerings from EMC, Network Appliance and Sun. Connecting compliant storage to mainframe systems using MDL allows data centres to immediately implement regulatory compliant storage within their mainframe tape infrastructure without the need for costly application re-engineering while realising vastly improved data retrieval response times.

Built on Bus-Tech's proven FICON and ESCON channel technology, Mainframe Data Library (MDL) provides multiple independently operating Connect Nodes to insure high-availability. Each Connect Node provides a minimum of two FICON or ESCON channel interfaces and emulates up to 256 mainframe tape drives. Attached to NFS-based network-attached storage (NAS) or major vendor's compliant storage offerings, including EMC's Centera, the MDL stores mainframe tape volumes (VOLSERs) directly on disk. A minimum MDL configuration incorporates dual Connect Nodes providing four FICON or ESCON channels and 512 tape drives. A full MDL configuration includes four Connect Nodes, eight FICON or 12 ESCON channels and up to 1 024 tape drives.