Fujitsu Siemens Computers announces "My very first Robot": automated tape backup for small and medium-sized enterprises

Fujitsu Siemens Computers is offering small and medium-sized enterprises an easy entry into the world of automated and redundant tape backup systems.

The FibreCAT TX24, with integrated robotics, performs largely unattended data backups, eliminating the need to manually change tapes every day.

Used with backup software like NetWorker or ARCserve, the FibreCAT TX24 supports media cloning, creating redundant backups by writing data to two tapes simultaneously.

One copy can then be stored at a separate location - a major improvement to any small or medium-sized company's changes of IT disaster recovery.

With its "My very first Robot" bundle, Fujitsu Siemens Computers is also taking care of the tape transportation element - offering a free spare magazine and tape magazine case for convenient transportation of tapes for storage. The special offer is valid immediately through 31 December 2007.

With human error one of the most common storage backup problems leading to data loss - for example through forgetting to change tapes, or using the wrong backup tape - Fujitsu Siemens Computers' FibreCAT TX24 helps avoid this through automating the tape change process so that system administrators must not load and unload tapes on a daily basis. With 24 tape slots, the system can perform an automatic, unattended backup for almost five working weeks without operator intervention - for example to change the tapes. This eliminates error-prone processes and substantially reduces the time and effort involved in backups.

When fitted with two LTO tape drives and used with backup software like NetWorker or ARCserve, FibreCAT TX24 can create duplicate backups on two tapes. One tape can then be stored off-site, meaning that data can still be accessed in case of an on-site operational disaster.

"Carefully planning and executing backups to protect critical business data is extremely important for businesses of any size. Small and medium-sized enterprises in particular need easy and affordable backup and archiving solutions, but not at the expense of reliability or their ability to meet today's increased data security requirements," said Gareth Hale, Product Manager Storage, Fujitsu Siemens Computers.

"With the 'My very first Robot' bundle, we are offering a convenient and attractively-priced entry-level solution for automated data backup enabling companies to take an important step forward in ensuring system availability and fault tolerance."

Long disregarded, classic tape backup is enjoying a resurgence as data security expectations increase, data volumes continue to expand, and compliance requirements become increasingly tough. However, businesses need comprehensive backup strategies that cannot be achieved with basic manual backups alone.

Tape backup systems such as the FibreCAT TX24, controlled by backup software, enable businesses to automate specific backup routines and to easily restore data when the need arises.

Occupying just two slots in a standard server rack (2U), the FibreCAT TX24 tape system is exceptionally compact. It supports either one full-height LTO-3 drive or two half-height LTO-2/LTO-3 drives, for a maximum storage capacity of 19.2 terabytes. Fitted with two half-height LTO-3 drives, the FibreCAT TX24 can write up to 864 gigabytes of compressed data to tape in an hour. The system can connect to a host on a SCSI or Fibre Channel interface. Equipped with 24 media slots in total, the system supports 12 slots in its standard configuration. The remaining 12 media slots can be activated immediately via a soft key licence.

Photos of the FibreCAT TX24 are available on the Fujitsu Siemens Computers media server at http://www.fsc-mediaserver.com/ms/go.cfm?folderid=5398&jumpfactor=6.