With a variety of CentricStor models Fujitsu Siemens Computers is now opening the way for small companies, branch offices, and also low-end mainframe customers to enjoy the advantages of the leading virtual tape technology from which customers with large data centres are already benefiting.
As a self-contained disk-to-disk-to-tape solution, CentricStor offers the connected servers a large number of virtual tape drives and the performance of disk storage for backup and restore.
Using integrated functions for the Information Lifecycle Management (ILM) of this tape data, CentricStor automatically transfers the accumulated data from disk to high-capacity tape libraries in accordance with policy-based rules.
In this way CentricStor decouples the servers from the physical tape libraries, thus implementing transparent integration into existing IT environments with mainframe, Unix, Windows and NAS systems. Tape virtualisation also permits the shared usage of physical tape storage for all operating system and backup applications. The inclusion of policy-based ILM for tape in the backup process improves the entire tape processing, and at the same time supports different service levels.
The following CentricStor models are available with immediate effect:
CentricStor VTA models (Virtual Tape Appliance)
CentricStor VTA, the enterprise-class platform from the CentricStor solution family is high scalable and designed for comprehensive data protection in large data centres, also in heterogeneous system environments.
Redundant components guarantee high availability of the complete solution. With its failsafe configuration for geographically dispersed locations, CentricStor VTA ensures comprehensive data protection, even in disaster situations. CentricStor VTA is available with immediate effect in five different model variants (CentricStor VTA 1000/2000/3000/4000/5000) which replace the two previous models CentricStor 100 and CentricStor 400.
Feedback from Fujitsu Siemens Computers customers has been incorporated in the new models. "Our new CentricStor models represent the range of customer-specific configurations which we produced on an individual basis in the past," says Dr Helmut Beck, Vice-President Storage at Fujitsu Siemens Computers. "Today our knowledge enables us to meet these requirements and thus produce standardised CentricStor models. This also pays off for our customers in the shape of reduced prices. The five CentricStor VTA models can still be individually adapted for customer-specific requirements."
CentricStor VTC (Virtual Tape Controller)
CentricStor VTC is a favourably priced platform for the entry with virtual tape technology. This self-contained solution with 16 or 32 virtual tape drives enables small companies to modernise their data protection using virtual tape technology, regardless of tape formats and technologies. With CentricStor VTC in branch offices, a CentricStor administrator can manage all the systems centrally using the familiar user interface and the familiar tools.
As the format of all CentricStor platforms is compatible, CentricStor Virtual Tape Controller can also be used in disaster recovery scenarios as a secondary system for data recovery or exchange of tape media with CentricStor format. CentricStor SBU (Smart Backup Unit)
CentricStor SBU is a complete virtual tape solution package for low-end mainframe customers. It is available as a tailored solution for the operating systems BS2000/OSD from Fujitsu Siemens Computers, or for OS/400, VM, VSE from IBM. As a result CentricStor also provides legacy systems access to state-of-the-art tape technology. The complete solution consists of CentricStor VTC, a tape library with LTO drives, necessary software components, and the control processor.
"Many companies use these operating systems for their mission-critical applications and often they are still working with old expensive tape technology. CentricStor SBU allows these users to modernise their tape processing with a powerful solution," says Dr Beck.
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CentricStor is the trade name for "Virtual Tape Solutions" from Fujitsu Siemens Computers and is offered on various platforms (CentricStor VTA models, CentricStor VTC, CentricStor SBU solution packages). CentricStor virtual tape technology offers an efficient and easy implementation of disk-to-disk-to-tape backup (D2D2T). The unified integration of disk into the data path to tape storage with CentricStor eliminates backup and restore bottlenecks. By combining the speed of disk with the behaviour and value of tape storage CentricStor retains the capacity and long-term data protection capabilities for today`s backup requirements.
The integrated ILM functionality (Information Lifecycle Management) for policy-based automation simplifies administration of the entire tape processing by improving quality of service. The self-contained virtual tape solution can be integrated without any adaptation of proven backup scenarios and upgrading to the latest tape technology happens without affecting host applications. CentricStor supports the most widely-used backup applications on the market-leading system platforms and the most important environments for tape automation.
Numerous satisfied customers in Europe are already using CentricStor for their data protection in a consolidated Nearline environment. The powerful CentricStor Virtual Tape Appliance is also being used successfully by large companies in Japan, the US and Southeast Asia. Further information on CentricStor is available at www.centricstor.com. Fujitsu Siemens Computers
Fujitsu Siemens Computers is the leading European IT provider with a responsible strategic focus on next-generation mobility and business-critical computing products, services and solutions. With a portfolio of exceptional depth, our offering extends from handhelds through desktops to enterprise-class IT infrastructure solutions. Fujitsu Siemens Computers has a strong presence in all key markets across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Leveraging the strengths, innovation and global reach of our joint shareholders, Fujitsu Limited and Siemens AG, we make sure we meet the needs of our customers: large corporations, small and medium enterprises and private users.
For more information on Fujitsu Siemens Computers, please visit www.fujitsu-siemens.com.
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